AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page 32

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, Febuary 14. The Civil Service Superannuation Fund, which has for some years been a source of anxiety owing to its insolvent condition, is again receiving attention. MrCoghlan, Government Statistician, has prepared a private report in which he makes certain suggestions in order to secure its solvency. They will require special legislation, and if they are not acted on Parliament will have to largely subsidise the fund. Judge Oliver, who visited New Zealand recently enquiring into the fisheries on behalf of the New South Wales Fisheries Commission, considers that, despite their plentifulness, fish are unreasonably dear in Auckland and Wellington, which he accounts for the fact that, as the Customs duties of from 25 to 30 por cent, give the tone to nearly everything, so the fishermen raise their prices 25 per cent. He considers Napier the best trawling ground in New Zealand. He was not able to get much information, because fish are got so easily that an industy in the proper sense of the word would never be developed. As an outcome of his investigation, he thought it would be absolute waste of money to attempt to stock the New South Wales rivers with, salmon,, but if a big salmonoid

is wanted, the brown trout, so prolific in New Zealand, will supply the want. Sydney, February 17. The ketch Candidate, on her way from Sydney, capsized while entering Port Macquarie. All hands were lost. The names of those drowned are:— Friman, captain; Sversden, mate; Matson, cook; Lawrence and Bogreust, seamen. The vessel drifted ashore, and is a complete wreck. The bodies of the captain and the cook have been recovered. A heavy sea was running, and it was impossible to render assistance to the unfortunate vessel. The ketch was insured for .£BOO, but the offices are unknown. Sydney, February 18. The Candidate was insured in the South British Office, but it is understood it was reinsured in other offices. A lifeboat made a gallant attempt to render assistance, in the face of a terrible sea, but no trace could be found of those who had been on board until the bodies drifted ashore. Dunedin, February 18. The hull of the Candidate was insuied in the South British Office for .£2OO. Melbourne, February 14. The treaty between New Zealand and South Australia has prompted curiosity as to what the wino trade with the former colony is worth. The Customs returns show that in 1893 New Zealand imported from Victoria wine of the value of .£5333-, from New South Wales .£574, and from South Australia .£6598 worth. Under the treaty nearly all this trade will go to Adelaide.

Melbourne, February 15. The report of the Military Board appointed in November to enquire into the pay of the Naval and Military Services,' indicates a saving of from ,£IO,OOO to .£12,000 sterling without impairing its efficiency. Giving evidence before the Cabinet Retrenchment Committee, the Secretary for Defence condemned the gunboats as absolutely useless, and such as never should have been purchased. The annual expenditure upon them was completely thrown away. He deprecated any interference, however, with the Permanent Artillery, which he regarded as an essential element in the national defences. Melbourne, February 16. An important action, affecting the English companies doing business in Victoria and now reconstructed, came before the Supreme Court. The plaintiff sued the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company to recover .£3700 with interest, refusing to recognise the reconstruction scheme, and contending that the order of the English Court was not binding on the Company's creditors in Victoria. The defendants asked to be allowed to defend the action on the ground that a reconstruction sanctioned by a Court of Domicile was binding on the creditors all over, the world. Mr Justice Hood said the point was too important to be decided on an application by the plaintiff for leave to enter up summary judgment. He refused the summons, with costs, leaving the case to be tried in the ordinary way. '"'V -*/ »^ Melbourne, February 18. When tenders are next invited for the carriage of Victorian produce to England, the Government will stipulate for a weekly service during 1 the first two months and last three months in each year, and one at intervals of not more than 28 days during the remaining seven months. Not more than 50 days is to be occupied on the voyage to London. An Intercolonial Pastoralists' Conference of an important character is now sitting here. The proceedings are private, but it is known that the question of chief importance is the labour difficulty. The trouble with the shearers in the season ■just closed cost the squatters about .£20,000 —a serious item which they wish to avoid, if possible, in future. The tone of the meeting seems in favour of dealing more amicably with the shearers next season.