AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12317, 8 July 1903, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—CapyrigM, ■ THE NEW HEBRIDES. '" ' (deceived July 8, 12.1 a.m.) Melbourne, July 7. Ik the House Sir Edmund Barton stated that there had been no official proposal for the partition of the New Hebrides between. France and Australia. The Federal Government would resist such a proposal. ; THE MAIL SERVICE. (Received July 8. 12.1 a.m.) V. Melbourne, July 7. The Federal Premier in the House to-day stated that the Government were considering the question of making it an indispensable condition in the next mail contracts provision for approved appliances for the conveyance' of perishable products, and announced that the terms of the Vancouver, mail contract would be presented to Parliameat before its final ratification.' PREFERENTIAL TRADE. (Received July 8. 12.1 a.m.) Sydney, July 7. The Assembly is discussing Mr. Karnes' motion that the message despatched by the Government to the Home Government affirming endorsement by the people of New South Wales of Mr. Chambsrlain's preferential proposals was a misinterpretation of publie opinion.' OPPOSITION TO THE BARTON MINISTRY. ' :_ Brisbane, July 7. A meeting, attended by the Premier and other members of the Cabinet and many members of Parliament and leading citizens, decided to form a national fund of £10,000 to secure the proper represents* tion of Queensland at the Federal elections, The speeches strongly condemned the Barton Government, and urged the necessity of supporting candidates opposed to socialistic legislation. Mr. Philp said that it was a bad thing that a small minority in the Federal Parliament should control the majority; he would vote for a Reid Government, as no Government could be worse than that of Sir Edmund Barton's. Two thousand pounds have already beets subscribed oi promised. * ■' ■

THE DROUGHT AT BROKE!*!' HILL. Sydney, July 7,\ Dr. McCarthy yesterday stated that the ' weather conditions at Broken Hill were- '. now more favourable, and lie was confident that lis would be able to retrieve his failure. He thinks they may expect rain by Wednesday. Large quantities of food are being issued to those who cannot obtain .work.... (Received July 3, :L2.1 a.m.) , ' Sydney, -.Ju1y";..?..; The Broken Hill Proprietary expect to partially resume work next week, finding employment for/about 1000 men. _ "•'..; NATIVE WAR AT PENTECOST - i ISLAND,;. .. : '■ • ■■'■'• j :.'■....,,. Svdn-et, July 7. Noumea advices state that in the .native war ; on . Pentecost Island f a child ■ was cut \, to pieces, Jive men belonging to the Melisi Mission were killed, audi an officer of a recruiting vessel was shot, in the arm. THE SMALLPOX OUTBREAK. / Launceston, July 7. Two more cases of smallpox are reported. The suspects are children, and the disease, is of a mild'type. ■■ ■ ■";. ; ? j : ' /: A DOUBLE EXECUTION. .' j Sydney, July* 7. ■■'~-. Grand and; Jones were executed at Darlinghurst, Gaol this morning. The former came to the ' scaffold and smiled at the : spectators,, and nodded to some ; acquaint-. ances. ' Jones was subdued, and apparently in a state of collapse mentally. He, died instantly, but Grand rawed convulsively for some time after thfc drop, and was evidently strangled. - NEW ZEALAND FROZEN MEAT. '■■•'"■■■■■• ■'■■ ■< ' Sydney, July 7. 1 .' Mr. Kidman, a well-known Sydney mer-■•■ chant, has returned from a lengthy resi- '• dence in England. ■-~'■■ He says that New i Zealand and Argentina meat shippers are continually .improving then position, and are now well and favourably known, whereas Australia is steadily losing her reputation. " The best London hotels' and "res-, taurants . consume large quantities of New Zealand meat, and the retail butchers are always pleased to label it "New. Zealand," while many of the better-class restaurants announce it on their menus. THE KOORINGA'S EVENTFUL TRIP. . Sydney, ..July 7. During her voyage from Wellington, in addition ; to her other: difficulties, the « Koorjnga's coal supply ran short, but ' she managed to eke - it ~" out till she reached port. • MURDER AND ROBBERY. Melbourne,; July 7. An old man. named Ford has teen found dead in a hut at Lyiidhurst with five bullet wounds in. his body. One hundred and fifty pounds which he had received for payment for land are missing. THE VISIT OF AN ENGLISH CRICKET TEAM. ;.','• '. '. ' Melbourne, July 7. The Cricketers' Association has endorsed the Melbourne Cricket Club's arrangements in connection with . the English team's visit, with a proviso that the previous umpire, Mr. Phillips, should not accompany them. It is proposed to forward a letter to the Marylebono Cricket Club objecting to Phillips' recent remarks regarding certain Australian bowlers, and Mr expressed intention to no-ball them. , ■■'■;■■ NORFOLK ISLAND. Sydney, July 7. Proclamations are published in the Government Gazette dealing with appeals from the Magistrate's Court at Norfolk Island, and with the constitution and power of the new Executive Council. Norfolk' Island advises that heavy weather prevails there. Melbourne, July 7. The Federal Executive has sanctioned a system of money orders and . postal notes between the Commonwealth and Norfolk Island. PENNY POSTAGE. Melbourne, July 7. . It has been decided to accept, without surcharge letters from Canada prepaid by a penny. , '' THE FEDERAL BUDGET. Melbourne,, July 7. ' Sir George Turner will deliver his financial statement on the 2bth inst, ' '