AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 34

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydney, December 6. During the consideration of the Estimates in the Assembly last night, tho Retrenchment Party wished to take a test vote as to whether an all-rcund reduction of 10 per cent, should be made in salaries above .£2OO per annum. The Leader of the Labour Party announced that he intended to discuss each item on its merits. With the exception of reducing the salaries of the Clerk of the Executive Council and the President of the Legislative Council, the Retrenchment Party was defeated in every instance. Mr Kelly, who is a Protectionist, has been returned as M.L.A. for Tweed, vice Mr J. Willard, who resigned. The Legislative Council has passed the Land Bill, but several amendments have been inserted which are likely to cause trouble with the Lower Chamber. The West Wallsend miners have intimated their willingness to enter into a local agreement, which practically means the severance from the Miners’ Association, but they decline to agree to the reduction in the hewing rate. This decision may be accepted as an index of the action of other miners in connection with the proposed reduction in the hewing rate. It is anticipated that the Sugar Refining Company will shortly reduce the price of sugar by <£l per ton. Sydney, December 10.

Grenoa, a burglar, who was charged with shooting at a watchman, has been found guilty and sentenced to death. The Maori King was on the point of leaving for Home with a full cargo of frozen meat when the refrigerator broke down, necessitating the discharge of cargo, of which 15,000 carcases have been sold. It is expected that the repairs to the vessel will be completed within a week. The captain of the steamer Gvvydir, which was totally wrecked on a reef at the south of Bird Island, has been found guilty of default, and called upon to show cause why his certificate should not b© suspended. < The Newcastle Coal Company has notified the men that they will reduce the hewing rate from 3s 2d to 2s lOd, giving them a twelve months’ local agreement. The Wallarah Collieiy Company has given notice of a reduction in the hewing rate from 2s 6d to 2s, and the Wallsend mine has also submitted substantial reductions. All these alterations in rates will come into operation on the Ist of next month. It is expected there will be a general movement to bring down the price of coal as well as the rate of wages.

Sydney, December 11.

The sentence of death passed on Frederick Dennis, for the murder at Fifield in August last of John Hall, was carried into effect to-day. The execution took place in Bathurst Gaol. Death was instantaneous. % Melbourne, December 6. It is now probable that the Government will not make any increase in the income tax, but will make up the deficiency caused by the raising of the land tax exemption by further retrenchment. The Premier, replying to a deputation of women, promised to introduce a Bill next year to confer the franchise on women. Melbourne, December 7. In the Legislative Assembly the Premier, owing to the increased exemption under the land tax, moved an increase in the income tax from 3d to 4<d, from 4-1- to 6d, and from 6d to 8d in the <£.l, according to the amount of income. He explained that in the event of further retrenchment providing the necessary revenue, the Government would probable see its way to reduce the income tax. Melbourne, December 8. A woman named Sarah Masters, residing at the town of Dandenong, 18 miles from Melbourne, murdered her infant by cutting its throat with a butcher’s knife. She then committed suicide by hanging herself. The unfortunate woman had been suffering from melancholia. Brisbane, December 6. The Legislative Assembly has passed the Railway Bill, providing for only one Commissioner. The Standard Time Bill passed, providing that the same time shall be kept throughout the colony. It comes into operation on Ist January. Brisbane, December 11. Parliament has prorogued till January 22nd. Horace Hewison, 19, son of Mr Ilewison, shipping agent, Newcastle, was attacked by an enormous shark while bathing. He and his brother drove tho shark off, but the lad’s arm* had to be amputated. A youth named Norman Battye was bitten on the foot by a snake whilst snipeshooting at Forbes, New South Wales. A hypodermic injection of strychnine was administered, and the patient recovered.

The Treasurer of Tasmania intends to intimate that passengers arriving from the other colonies cannot bring into Tasmania unworn clothes.