AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12229, 26 March 1903, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

■o By Telegraph— Association.— GOVERNOR OP WEST AUSTRALIA. Perth, March 25. Admiral Bedford, the new Governor, arrived to-day and was cordially welcomed. MILES 01? FLOATING PUMICE. Sidney, March 25. The captain pi the French barque Empereur Menelik, which arrived from San' Francisco to-day, reports that when thirty miles west of the Tongan Group, on tho 18th inst., the vessel ran through a quan- * tity of pumice-stone, which covered the ocean for a distance of five miles. , VICTORIAN REFORM BILL. Melbourne, March 25. ' The conference en the Reform Bill has arrived at a compromise. Counties will be dissolved after the passing of the Bill and the Redistribution of Seats Bill, which it is estimated - will be in about nine months' time. The number of members of the Council will be 34, and of the Assembly 68. There c will be eight Ministers, two to sit in the Council. The Council franchise will bo a £10 annual rental freehold, and £15 leasehold. The Council's qualification for membership is £50. In the event of disagreement between the Houses the Assembly will be dissolved. If the new House sends up / the same measure and there is again a disagreement a double dissolution will follow. Woman suffrage has been abandoned. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. (Received March 25, 11.21 p.m.) Sydney, March 25. Four business premises in Partes have been destroyed by fire. The damage is estimated at £5000. SMALLPOX. (Received March 25, 11.21 p.m.) Sydney, March 25. Two passengers by the Tsinan have devl loped smallpox at the quarantine station. ' BREAK-UP OF THE DROUGHT. * (Received March 25, 11.21 p.m.) - ,V Sydney, March 25. Goods rains are falling in the northern highlands. Four inches fell at Port Stephens, and over three inches at Newcastle. SIR JOSEPH WARD. (Received March 25, 11.21 p.m.) Melbourne, March. 25. Sir Joseph and Lady Ward left by the Victoria to-day for the Bluff. Sir E. Barton and other politicians saw them off. ■ THE SITUATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES. (Received March 26, 1.39 a.m.) Sydney, March 25. In the course of a speech, Mr. Waddell,. the Treasurer, complained of the hostility of the press towards the Government, especially at a time like the present, when the Government was confronted with the gravest difficulties and the shadow of a dark calamity hung over the country position which the act of Providence and the state of. the British money market had placed them, in. He thought the.press and the Opposition should do all that was possible to avoid embarrassing them./ V . ' '