AUSTRALIAN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 691, 29 May 1885, Page 19

AUSTRALIAN

(beuteb’s telegbams.) Mei/boerne, May 21. A series of experiments were made

yesterday afternoon at Fitzroy with a gas motor for tramcars. The car, containing - 20 persons, travelled at the rate of 9g- miles an hour, and the trial proved a complete success. Sydney, May 21.

Sailed —-Union Company’s steamer Wakatipu, for Wellington, this afternoon.

The Pacific Mail Company’s R.M.S. City of Sydney sailed this afternoon with the Homeward San Francisco mails. She has on board, £5700 of specie. The drought still continues, and great inconvenience is experienced in the district in consequence of the scarcity of water. In the country districts rain is badly needed. Adelaide, May 22.

Statistics for the past season have been issued by the Government. They show the total yield of wheat in South Australia to have beep 14,600,000 bushels, an average of 7 - 32 bushels per acre. 902,000 bushels have already been exported from the Colony, and the quantity available is 50,000 tons, of which about half is for shipping. Melbourne, May 22. The Messageries s.s. Yarra, which has arrived here, brings news of a severe cyclone which occurred in Madagascar on the 25th February last. Great damage was done to shipping, no less than twelve vessels being destroyed. Private telegrams received from London state that the sugar market is somewhat excited owing to the publication of the crop statistics, showing that, according to the esti-. mates, the world’s crop will be 425,000 to 450,000 tons Less this season than it was last year. The telegrams also slate that sugar has risen £7 per ton in London since December last.

Telegraphic advices from Java also show ah excited feeling in the market, there, and prices are stated to be 25s per ton higher in Batavia. Sydney, May 22.

The departure of the Union Company’s Wakatipu for Wellington has been postponed until to-morrow. Telegrams have passed between the Hon Alexander Stuart, Premier of New South Wales, and the Hon Robert Stout, Premier of New Zealand. The latter expresses himself as being anxious to show his appreciation of the work done by the New South Wales Contingent in the Soudan, and of their conduct while undergoing the hardships of a campaign. Mr Stuart, in reply, conveyed to Mr Stout his gratification of receiving so touching an expression of sympathy, and requested the honor of a visit from the Premier of New Zealand on the occasion of the return of the Colonial forces. Sydney, May 21. The market is rather weaker. Prices realised bring one penny to threepence below last week’s quotations. New Zealand wheat 2s Bd, a decline of one penny; New Zealand oats, 2s 3d, a fall of threepence ; maize 3s. Sugar—-Company’s No. 1 prices remain at £26 per ton. Adelaide, May 22. There is a little improvement in wheat since last report. Prices are now steady at 3s 7d to 3s 9d ; Adelaide town flour, £8 5s per ton. Melbourne, May 25. Arrived, this morning—Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.’s R.M.S. Ballarat, with London mails of April 17. A grand review of the troops was held here to-day in honor of Her Majesty’s birthday. Adelaide, May 24., The Orient Steam Navigation Co.’s s.s. Austral arrived here to-day from England, having made the fastest passage on record. Sydney, May 25. Arrived—Union Co.’s s.s. Tarawera, from A ueisland, to-day. Sydney, May 26. The dry weather still continues, and great inconvenience is felt here owing to the scanty water supply. The City Engineer is adopting measures to increase the quantity obtainable from the Botany reservoirs. Arrived Union Company’s s.s. Tarawera, morning of 25th. Melbourne, May 26. The manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company (Limited) of New Zealand reports on the local grain market as follows Shipping wheat is rather firm at 3s lOd to 3s lid ; malting barley, a shade firmer, 3s 9d to 4s 6d; New Zealand oats, feed sorts, much steadier, 2s 9d to 2s lid ; milling descriptions, slightly improved tendency, 3s to 3s Id ; New Zealand oats, under bond, 2s Id to 2s 3d ; ryegrass seed, 3s 6d to 4s 6d ; cocksfoot, to 4d.

(Per s.s. Manapouri, at the Bluff.) (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) JMelboubnk, May 20.. In February last, Mr Service, Colonial Secretary, wrote to New South Wales requesting' information as to the nature of the proposed supervision for a scientific exploration in New Guinea. An answer has been received, dated February 27tb, statmg that the Geographical Society of .Australasia has not yet matured any plans of exploration. It otates that Admiral Tryon and General Scratchley both advised delay until they assumed their respective offices in New Guinea, when they would be aide to support on the spot the proposed expedition. The Society proposes without delay to undertake the exploration of the River Aird, in order to ascertain how far an expedition could penetrate by water. William Barnes, for the murder of Slack, was hanged at Melbourne on Good Friday last. He professed penitence for the crime. It has been resolved to call a public meeting in aid of the Gordon memorial on the 29th, the Governor presiding. The production of the new opera “lolarithe,” by Gilbert and SullivaD, at the Theatre Royal, was a most unqualified success. The Tasmanian Government has addressed Admiral Tryon on the subject of protecting Bass Straits in the event of war. Mr Service supports their demand. The chair of Classics and Comparative Philology in the Melbourne University has been filled by Professor Tucker, o f Auckland University College. Professor Tucker’s election was carried by a majority of nine to three. The only arguments used by the minority against Professor Tucker’s election were on the principle of open competition. The Victorian Commissioners to the Indian and Colonial Exhibition have received a letter from the Agent-General, stating that the Guarantees Fund has reached £150,000. Colored maps, showing portions occupied by various colonies, were also sent. The Australian colonies have been allotted positions in the centre of the Exhibition. Stones, May 20. It is reported that Lieutenant Airey, of the New South Wales Contingent, has been appointed adjutant. Adelaide, May 20. Members of the Volunteer Military Forces who took part in the late encampment are indignant that the Government has not paid them yet. It is understood that the Government withheld pay in consequence of a dispute with Government servants belonging to the force. Government allege they will not allow Volunteer officers who are Civil servants to draw military pay in addition to a salary. (Per City of Sydney at Auckland.) (UNITED PRESfS ASSOCIATION.) Sydney, May 21. The Contingent is expected to return about the 12th June, when a grand parade of all the forces will be held. The strength of the permanent force now amounts to a little over 450 rueD, and the total defence force, including the reserves and all branches of the service, to something like 10,000 men. The water supply question still absorbs much attention. The weather continues fine and dry, and the supply in the dams is fast decreasing. Already both city and suburbs have been placed under a strictly intermittent system, and means are devised to bring water by flumes or popes from Scarborough Park or some other locality. Typjhoid is not decreasing, the circumstances being against it. Some time in June last the Secularist paper, The Liberator, was banished by the Committee from the reading room of the School of Arts, The paper in question reflected in gross terms on the Queen in what Judge Windeyer describes as a series of coarse, brutal, and infamous libels. The Secularist last night asserted that they were true. Mr Charles Bright moved a resolution in favor of the Liberator being retained, but the meeting by a iarge majority decided otherwise. Admiral Tryon considers our means of defence insufficient, and that we should have at command something more than merely defence ships. The new cruiser Lusitania will be taken a trip for gun practice tomorrow. A collision occurred in the harbor on Tuesday night between the steamer Australian, outward bound with passengers, and the Port Jackson. The former was considerably damaged, and had to be beached. A collision also occurred in Newcastle harbor on the same night. There is an appearance of "irouble at the Greta mine, Wallsend, and a ballot is to be taken whether the men will go out on strike or not. The boy3’ dispute in the Wallseud colliery is not yet settled.