AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1196, 1 February 1895, Page 34

AUSTRALIAN.

Melbourne, January 23. Tho Italian ship Savoia, 1308 tons, just arrived from New York, caught fire while lying at tho Avliarf, but the brigade was fortunately able to obtain a mastery of the flames before much damage was done. The cargo consists of 70,000 pounds of gasoline, 100,000 pounds of kerosene, 250,000 pounds of lubricating oil and 100,000 pounds of paraffin wax, and it is marvellous that no explosion occurred, as the case was burnt off a quantity of kerosene.

Replying to a deputation of sawmillors, tho Minister of Lands said it was the desire of the Government to afford every encouragement to the timber industry, and iu was intended to send a trial shipment of paving blocks to America at Government expense.

Melbourne, January 2 4

An enthusiastic meeting on the subject of Federation was hold at the Town Hall last night, tho Chiof Justice presiding. Mr Reid, Premier of New South Wales, said it seemed to him that tho vital defect in the efforts of tho last few years in tho direction of Federation was that it never seemed to quito come home to the hearts of tho masses. Tho first essential of a thoroughly successful Federal movement was popular enthusiasm. If not obtained in that way it could only come by a popular panic. They must not forget tho great work done by Sir lleni'y Park os and the Sydney Convention. In tho draft Bill, however, there had been a too palpable bid for Federation at any price. He was sure Now South Wales was not prepared for such a Federation, and that they would never take the irrevocable step of legislative and executive union unless they could see boforo them for their acceptance a definite, sound, and economical arrangement. Mr Larko, the Canadian representative, was one of tho speakers. Melbourne, January 24. In tho Legislative Assembly the Promior (Mr Turner) intimated, in reply to a question, that the Government intended to take the financial straits of tho colony into consideration during the recess. Tho Government had not boon' approached by tho depositors with a scheme for releasing tho funds in the reconstructed institutions. If such a scheme were submitted it would be tho duty of tho Government to give it careful consideration. This reply deemed to amuse tho House. Tho Legislative Council lias passed tho socond reading of tho Income Tax Bill by 28 votes to 10, and subsequently put tho Bill through its final stages. Melbourne, January 27. Speaking at tho Australasian Natives Demonstration, the Attorney-General, referring to the rejection of the Land Tax by tho Legislative Council, said the people of tho colony would not allow the most valuable portion of the wealth of tho colony to go untaxed. The Bill, ho said, would be reintroduced. Melbourne, January 28. At a mooting of tho Metropolitan Gas Company it was stated that 20 minutes wero lost each night by the adoption of the] standard time. The Bill will mean a loss to tho Company of JJ10,300 per annum.

The Board of Enquiry into the affairs of tho Defence Department has completed its work. It is understood that the Board recommends reductions to the extent of <£20,000 in salaries and allowances. Melbourne, January 29. A discovery of golden sandstone has been made at Gippsland. Over 012000 worth of gold has been already obtained. An important feature is that the gold has been found in the formation known as the Upper Devonian, hitherto pronounced by all the geologists to bo non-auriferous. Parliament has prorogued till Maroh 19th. In the Governor’s Speech special reference was made to the Income Tax Bill and tho improving revenue. It was hoped that when the Tariff Commissioners reported an off or t would bo made to improve trade by changes in the tariff without injuring industries. Tho export trade presented a hopeful outlook. The Governor’s and Ministers’ Salaries Reduction Bill would bo reserved for the Queen’s assent. The Cloucurry, which arrived from Fremantle, in Western Australia, to-day, was quarantined, as a saloon passenger is suffering from small-pox. The small-pox patient on the Cloncurry bocamo delirious on the voyage and fell overboard. Tho third oflicer was drowned in attempting to rescue him. Sydney, January 23. Mr Cook, tho Postmaster-General, replying to a deputation from the Seaman’s Conference, who urged that the Government should not subsidise mail steamers employing Asiatics, said he would go to tho Postal Conference in Hobart with liis mind clearly made up to use his best endeavours to try and get white labour only employed on the mail steamers. Sydney, January 24. There has been groat destruction of pro-

j#rty by the floods in the Maitland district. Railway communication is still interrupted. Two coasting vessels - the schooner J?hilip Palfrey and the ketch Dewdrop—mre reported missing. The Morpeth district is one stretch of ■water. For miles not a farm escaped inundation. A man named Corbett has been drowned. The flood in the Manning River is the since 1876. Farms are submerged an all directions, but the water is now receding. Fifteen inches of rain fell in three days. Maryborough is preparing for floods. . At Bundaberg six inches have fallen jsince Sunday, and it is still raining. A flood is anticipated. Sydney,- January 25. At a general meeting of the Commercial Banking Company, a dividend of 8 per cent, per annum was declared, and <£14,400 carried forward, in addition to .£160,000 paid on called-up capital due to date, and a further sum of £167,000 paid in anticipation of future dates. ■ ... The Chairman, speaking with regard to this latter fact, said it was a striking com- , ment on the criticisms of some financial writers who asserted that Australian Bank shareholders would be unable to meet their ' calls. He pointed out during the last halfyear the company had released the whole «f the deferred deposits payable in London, and maturing between 1898 and 1903, as ■well as a considerable portion of the colonial deferred deposits, thus reducing ■the indebtedness under this head by about -£2,000,000. Sydney, January 28. / A party of Chinese keeping up their Sew Year at Hillston were attacked by rrikins. . they offered a desperate resistance, and in ’the fight that followed two Chinamen ■were.killed and two dangerously wounded. Nippon Yusen Kaisb a,a powerful Japanese steamship company, intend after the war to run a fast line of steamers to Australia, doing the trip in 16 days. The company will also utilise their surplus steamers to convey coal to India and other Eastern ports, with a view to ultimately securing the.control of the whole trade. ' The report of the Australian Joint Stock Bank shows a profit for the half-year of -621,900, recommends a dividend of 4 per cent., the carrying forward of <£l4oo, and the reserve be increased .£ISOO. , . .At the enquiry into the fatal collision between the Princess and the Awhina the latter was adjudged at fault, and Captain Beterson was cited to show cause why his certificate should not be suspended. A rider was added that the captain and crew wof the Awhina made every effort to render -assistance. • At the annual conference of the Labour Electoral Leagues, it was decided to add two planks to the platform, viz., compulsory arbitration and that all public works should" be carried out by the .Government without the intervention of contractors. Sydney, January 29. A crisis is. threatened in the sugar jnarket. ~ German manufacturers are offering to supply beet sugar at <£3 10s to £4 per ton lower than the local article, after paying a duty of <£s per ton. This, combined with the estimated local surplus of 10,000 tons, is demoralising the market. The Seaham Colliery has resumed work with non-Unionists, who have secured police protection. So far there has been no disturbance. The Wallsend miners have accepted the reduced rates offered by the collieryowiier&, and start work to-morrow. . A destructive flood occurred at Bingara, 350 miles north-west from Sydney. The bank of a creek collapsed, and 1 forced the water into the township, where a large number of houses were flooded, and several families were rescued with difficulty by means of boats. Many houses were considerably damaged, while great destruction resulted to property of all descriptions. The farmers are - heavy losers, a wide area of crops being submerged. 'the water is now subsiding. A mysterious murder is reported from Cootamundra, 250 miles south of Sydney. The body of an unknown man was found in a reservoir sewn in a sack weighted . with stones. ,■ The head was battered in, and stabs were found in the back and neck. The deceased camped near the reservoir, and had a quarrel with Indian hawkers some time ago, since which they have not been seen. ' Perth, January 23. - Information is to hand that five natives have been murdered by whites at Mount Margaret. The accused men have confessed. A gold discovery has been made near Hannan’s, some samples of the stone being over a third gold. Perth, January 26. < Fine stone his been struck in Bay ley’s Reward mine. Coolgardie, during prospecting in the north main shaft. Alluvial gold has also been found in Bayley’s Island, it being discovered in a kind of cement under some seven feet of difficult stripping. Brisbane, January 23. The water has abated in the low-lying-parts, and no serious damage is now anticipated. The weather is still threatening*. Brisbane, January 24. The Government has placed a small sum in the hands of the British Consul at Buenos Ayres to relieve the needs of tlie immigrants from Queensland in Paraguay. Brisbane, January 26. Heavy rain fell during the last two days, and 81-in have been registered. Ail the lower portions of Brisbane and the suburbs are, submerged. The river is in high flood and rising. People are removing goods from tlio wharves. The rain ceased to-night, but the weather is still threatening*.

Brisbane, January 29. The weather is clearing, and the floods are subsiding.

Hobart, January 23

There is much stir in mining circles owing to x*ich stone having been struck in the Adjutant claim, Lefroy, on the Volunteer reef. The discovery is likely to develop a number of dividend-paying mines. Hobart, January 25. A trag*edy is reported from Patteysonia, near Launceston.

Mrs Wilson, the wife of an engineer, was found dead in the garden of the house with a bullet through her head.

Her husband is missing, and it is believed he shot his wife and then committed suicide. His disappearance cannot bo accounted for in any other way. Hobart, January 28.

The Premiers of Now South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, have arrived for the purpose of holding the proposed Conference. General Hutton and Commander Collins will act as military advisers to the Conference.

Hobart, January 29. At an informal meeting of the Premiers, the questions to be dealt with at the conference were touched upon. They include Federation, Customs Union, Silver Coinage, Amalgamation of the Defence Forces, the Japanese Treaty, and Uniform Shipping Laws. The Conference of Premiers opened today. Sir E. Braddon was elected president. _■

The press is excluded from the meeting on the understanding that full information will be supplied at the conclusion of the proceedings. It is understood the question of Federation is now under discussion.