AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1182, 26 October 1894, Page 30

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, October 18

The Marine Board has decided to formally charge the captain and second officer of the Rodondo with unskilful navigation. Melbourne, October 19. At the conference of the Councils of tho Congregational Union, Dr Bevan held that a protest should be raised against the interference of France with the natural development of the Malagasy. Consideration of the question was postponed. Melbourne, October 21. The jury disagreed in the case of Morrison for wife murder. They were unable to come to any decision on the question of the man’s insanity, and have therefore been discharged. In the meantime Morrison has been remanded for examination as to his mental condition. Melbourne, October 23. At the enquiry into the loss of the s.s. Rodondo, the chief mate said the disaster was due to a hitherto unknown current driving the vessel out of her course, which was correctly set' by the captain. The mate made careful experiments during the voyage which showed that the compasses were not affected by the boiler carried on deck. Captain Hill, of the illfated steamer Rodondo, attributes the disaster to unknown currents, as he reckoned that the vessel was 15 miles further south than it was. Sydney, October 18. The Sugar Company has reduced the price <£l per ton all round. The three recent reductions are said to mean a loss of <£150,000 to the Queensland sugar planters', Sydney, October 19. The Cabinet has decided not to make any recommendation to the Governor in the cases of the bank prisoners Abigail and Macnamara. With regard to Low and Hadfield, they have forwarded certain recommendations to the Governor, which have not at present been made public. For some time past a sensation has been caused by spiritualistic seances conducted under the mediumship of Mrs Mellon, and the position occupied by those investigating seemed to place the matter beyond intention to deceive. Two gentlemen have made a statutoi’y declaration that at a “ materialisation ” seanco at Mellon’s house they captured tho materialised form of a little girl, which was merely Mrs Mellon on her knees. They also found articles within a recess which were recognised as forming part of tho attire of other “ materialised spirits.” The discovery is creating a sensation. On the other hand, Dr Macartliy, under whose eyes tho previous seances were conducted, was not present at the discovery, but despite it, does not beliove the manifestations he obtained were the result of fraud. If they were, then, he says, Airs Mellon is the greatest conjuror ho ever saw. ;

Mrs Mellon gives an extraordinary explanation of how she was found to be in the place of the disembodied spirit. She says the latter drew its matter from the medium, and gave as an instance that her. weight diminished by one-half, on, such occasions. This, she declares, has been proved by experiment. When the charm was broken by the capture, the,spirit fled, leaving an attenuated medium. Sydney, October 21. In connection with the spiritualistic seaation, Dr McCarthy publishes some extraordinary statements regarding* the medical examination of certain forms materialised by Mrs ‘Mellon, which he states emphatically are not those of a woman. -• ■ rMrs Mellon expresses her determination to give a materialistic seance under the most rigid test in order to prove her genuineness. ■■■> r -; ; ' i ; ' ) Sydney, October. 23,: * Ini tho.j.Legislativa Assembly a Bill,to. abolish the re-election of Ministers on their

acceptance of office was rejected on the second reading by 51 votes to 20. The Back Cr' ek Miners’ Lodge has resolved to appro .ten the mine-owners for an advance of 1? per ton in the hewing rate, and in the event of refusal the whole of the district miners will be called out. This resolution, however, requires to be approved of by the whole northern lodges before effect can be given to it. As the Back Creek miners are at present out owing to the closing of the pit it is not likely the whole district will give its assent. The conference of Australian Commandants begins to-morrow. The principal question to. be discussed is Federal defence. • Adelaide, October 19. The Taxation Bill has passed the Assembly. THE COOLGARDIE GOLD DIGGINGS. London, October 21. Three companies have offered to buy the Londonderry mine for <£500,000, Melbourne, October 22. About -7cwt of specimens from the Wealth of Nations claim has been treated here. The parcel yielded 27190 zof gold. Perth, October 22. Some rich stone has been taken from the Mount Margaiot claim, Coolgardie. A parcel of 5001 b gave an ounce to the pound,