AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 860, 24 August 1888, Page 26

AUSTRALIAN.

(per press association.) Melbourne, August 16. Arrived—Tarawera, from Bluff. Sydney, August 16. Mr N. Melville, member for Northumberland, asked his Excellency the Governor, Lord Carrington, to mediate between tho coal masters and the miners, but acting on the advice of Sir Henry Parkes, the Premier, his Excellency declined. The coal masters and miners have declined to accept the mediation of the Chamber of Commerce. A large body of police, fully armed, have been despatched to Brokong station, where a serious difficulty has occurred among the shearers. A number of shearers belonging to the TJnion have seized several non-Unionists, and hold them as prisoners. Albany, August 16. Arrived, to-day—Oceana, from Plymouth. Passengers for New Zealand —Misses Dunn and Smith, Messrs Ellis, Henderson and Wood. Sydney, August 37. Arrived—To Anau, s.s., from Auckland. Lord Cairington has been elected First Grand Master of the New South Wales Masonic Lodges. Mr Seddon, the late captain of the English football team, was buried at Maitland yesterday. The ceremony was of an imposing character. A fund has been started with the object of placing a memorial stone over the grave. Sailed—Christiana, for Auckland. Hobart, August 17. A movement is afoot in Launceston to get this colony annexed by Victoria, on the ground of the incompetence of Tasmanian legislators. The want-of-confidence motion tabled by Mr Nicholson Brown, member for Cumberland, has been negatived. Ministers have announced their intention to withdraw their Propertytax proposals, and introduce a modified scheme.

Adelaide, August 17.

The Treasurer delivered his Budget speech last night. The Statement shows a surplus over the estimated revenue of L 170,000 Railways show a profit of L 432,000, or nearly per cent on the capital. The Customs revenue shows an increase of L 127,000. The Government propose to place a loan on the London market in April of L 1,500,000, at per cent. The Treasurer estimates the surplus on the Public Works revenue for the ensuing year at L 122,000. A terrible tragedy was committed in this city to-day. Charles Lawrence, an accountant, who had been in a depressed state of mind for some time owing to indisposition, took a revolver and shot his three children dead— Nellie, Wilfred, and Millicent, and then shot himself. His wife was absent from home at the time.

Melbourne, August 17,

In the Legislative Assembly, Mr James Munro, member for Geelong, tabled a motion for an increase in the stock tax. The Government accepted the motion as a want of confidence, and the debate is now proceeding. Newcastle, August 17. Sailed—Clyde, for I'imaru; Rebecca, for Lyttelton. Brisbane, August 17.

The Governors of the Bank of Eng land have made representations to the Queensland Agent General in Londop to the effect that it is desirable that the colony should discontinue placing loans on the London market at such short intervals, and that if this suggestion is not complied with the bank would find it necessary to rid itself of the responsibility o£ undertaking the loans. The debt of Queensland is now higher per head than that of any of the colonies.

Adelaide, August 18.

The recent report, that the Marquis of Norman by was to succeed Sir W. Robinson as Governor of South Australia, which caused the Government of the Colony to demand a voice in the appointment of the next Governor, is stated to be without foundation. Borings put down at various localities on the Murray Flats have revealed indications of a cannel coal field. Melbourne, August 18. The Government have decided to increase the import duty on oats and barley, but declines to increase the stock tax. Melbourne, August 19. The Railway Department have been promisi-d or.: unlimited supply of coal from "h.-mania The threatened strike lias caused New Zealand coal to advance 15s per ton, Sydney, August 18. The Government of New South

"Wales is willing to renew the San Francisco mail contract for twelve mouthß.

A crisis is imminent at Brookong station owing to the difficulty among the shearers. A night attack is expected, and it is feared that the result will end in bloodshed. The besieging force number 300, while the defending force is comparatively small. Newcastle, August 19. Sailed—Taupo, for Wellington. Melbourne, August 20. The Exhibition is now far advanced toward completion. The attendance on Saturday numbered 24,000. brigantine, from Kaipara. The Premier, Mr Gillies, has addressed a circular letter to the Premiers of the other colonies urging them to join with Canada in impressing upon the Imperial Government the urgent necessity of making a survey for the Pacific cable. The jurors will commence their W'ork at the Exhibition about the second week in September, but their awards will not be made known for two or three months. No exhibits will be received after the end of this month, excepting where they are detained by vessels making long passages. Newcastle, August 20. Arrived Kenilworth, schooner, from Gisborne. Brisbane, August 20. Arrived—Fijian, from Oamaru. A Frenchman named Duhamel murdered Mrs Biley, his paramour, near Croydon, almost cutting her head off with a razor. The murderer then swallowed strychnine, but took too much, and the overdose acted as an emetic. He was arrested immediately. Jealousy is assigned as the cause. Hobart, August 20. A resolution has been carried imposing a tax of a halfpenny in the £ on land owned by absentees, but it is not regarded as likely to become law. Sydney, August 20. Dr Butcher has discovered two more diseases which he claims may be successfully employed in the extermination of rabbits. Ho has been conducting a series of experiments with the new diseases with moßt satisfactory results. The Maritime Labour Council has requested the southern coal owners not to supply the Zealandia. Sydney, August 21.

A ballot is being taken of the various Seamen’s Unions throughout Australia to decide the following questions :—(1.) "Whether there should be a general strike; (2.) If the matters at issue shall bo settled by arbitration ; (3.) Whether the eubsidy to the Jubilee Shipping Company shall be continued; and (4.) Whether the Seamen’s Union shall withdraw altogether from the struggle. The local Union have decided to send a further sum to assist the Jubilee Steamship Company of Auckland, and the Shipowners’ Association will continue their subsidy to the Northern Steamship Company. It is believed that efforts are being made by shipowners and colliery proprietors to amalgamate with capitalists, with the viewof resisting future undue demands of labour organisations. Obituary—James Squire Farnell, M.L.A. for Redfern. He" was Minister of Lands in the Parkes Ministry from 1872 to 1875, and Premier of the colony in 1878. Alexander Fraser, ex-member of the Legislative Council.

In the Supreme Court to-day, Mr John l-iaynes, M.L.A. for Mudgee, brought an action against Mr James Fletcher, M.L.A. for Newcastle, in which damages were laid at LSOOO for an assault committed by the latter upon the former in the House of Assembly on 21st March last. A verdict was given for the defendant. The colliery proprietors have received a conciliatory deputation from the citizens of Newcastle, and the coal masters have agreed to open negotiations with the men if the latter will withdraw the resolutions of which they gave notice. The deputation hope to be able to induce the men to accept the condition imposed by the masters, and the latter have handed to the deputation sealed proposals for an agreement, which are not to be opened till the men comply with the stipulation of the masters.

The present is the driest season ever known in that part of the colony embracing a radius of a hundred miles of this city. In the country districts also the rainfall has been below the average. Brisbane, August 21.

Mr W. McGregor, Special Commissioner for New Guinea, sailed for his

new sphere of labour on Saturday. He expects to be in a position to proclaim the sovereignty of Her Majesty the Queen over British New Guinea on the 6th of September. A man named John Sutherland has confessed to the murder of tho station hand, William Shinning, on Meteor Downs Station, twelve years ago. The police are- making inquiries into the matter. Melbourne, August 21. Tho trustees of the National Art Gallery are" making extensive purchases of pictures at the Exhibition.