AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 30

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, March 20.

The directors of the Kapai-Vermont mine, Kuaotunu, have decided to resist the claims of the Cassel Company for the use of the cyanide process. The secretary proceeds to Auckland to-morrow in the interests of his company. Counsel's opinion is to the effect that the decision of the English Court, while not in the strictly legal sense a bar to proceedings to enforce the patent, is practically a bar. He holds that no Court, in the face of the English decision, would grant an injunction to stop works, nor would any colonial Judge, in the event of an action being brought, ignore the English verdict. March 22.

Dawson, the manager of the 'Newcastle branch of the Howard Smith Steamship Company, has been committed for trial on a charge of falsifying documents with intent to defraud the company out of .£I2OO. An investigation into the state of the Civil Service Superannuation Fund made by the Government Statistician shows a deficiency in the capital of £2,900,000. The fund in 1893, including the Government contributions, amounted to £56,000, while the pensions already entered upon were valued at .£713,000. Mr Coghlan states that the condition of affairs is so bad that no assistance the State could reasonably be expected to afford would be of material service, as the deficiency is increasing at the rate of .£120,000 per year. The only remedy he can see is to reduce the present prospective pensions fully 60 per cent., and limit pensions to those who reach the full pension age, charging the retrenched Civil Servants to the consolidated revenue, admitting no one above 35 years of age, and otherwise restricting the conditions. A cottage has been burned down at Annadale, and two children named Hoare, aged five years and 18 months, lost their lives. They were left in the charge of a boy of six, and a candle caught the bed curtains. Sydney, March 24. Arrangements are being completed for Lady Duff and family to leave for England by the steamer Victoria on May 13th. The horses and other live stock, and also the carriages brought from England, will I be sold. At a large meeting in the Protestant I Hall, a resolution was carried opposing

ENO'S "FRUIT SALT."—" Rosina Cottage, Ventnor, Isle of Wight.—Mr ENO, Dear Sir, —The effects in my case are astonishing, as I am constitutionally bilious, and am now 52 years of age. My mother and youngest sister were never cured of sickness (biliousness seems hereditary), and 1 quite expected to suffer like them for the rest of my life. lam now taking my fourth bottle, and was joined in the others by some of my family, so that I have taken scarcely three bottles. I feel I ought to make some acknow ledgment, so trust you will excuse this. — Eliza Felling." Sold by all Chemists and Stores,

the insidious attempt to bring about a coalition between Sir Henry Parkes and Sir George Dibbs, two politicians of professedly different faiths, for the purpose of defeating the will of the people, as expressed at the general election. Sidney, March 25. Arrangements have been made for the Huddart-Parker Company to take over the agency here of the Canadian-Australian mail steamers. Sydney, March 26. Captain Hall, representing the underwriters, is leaving by the Mararoa for Auckland to report on the condition of the ship Wolverine, which recently put into that port leaking. -Sydney, March 26. A cable message from Noumea reports that the barque Pisagua, 130 days out from Chili to Sydney, is flying signals of distress 40 miles from Noumea. The warship Scorff has gone to her assistance. With regard to anxiety expressed in New Zealand for the safety of the warship Wallaroo, it is explained that the vessel has not yet been ordered to Auckland, and that she remains in Samoa until relieved. In the Legislative Assembly a message was read from Lady Duff thanking members for the address of condolence sent by the Chamber. She stated that it gave her deep satisfaction to know that the desire of her late husband to devote himself to the weal of the colony was appreciated by the Parliament and people. Brisbane, March 24. The enquiry into the charges of kidnapping against the captain and crew of the labour vessel William Mansonhas been concluded. The defendants were found not guilty, but were remanded pending enquiries into other charges. Brisbane, March 25. Mr Naylor, a prominent solicitor, entered a barber's shop and committed suicide by shooting himself through the heart. The Attorney-General entered a nolle prosequi in the other charges of kidnapping against the captain and crew of the labour vessel William Manson, and all the accused have been discharged. Melbourne, March 22. In connection with the voyage of the Antarctic, it is stated that vast quantities of guano were found on the Possession Islands. Though no right whales were seen, immense numbers of big fin whales were met with, and it would pay to .fit out ships to hunt them. It is computed that the capture in a summer's cruise would be 40 fish, which would mean a return of .£40,000. Melbourne, March 23.

The Argus says apoint of much interest to shippers; consignees and underwriters has been raised in connection with the accident to the steamer Oroya. For some years the practice has been growing of making up general average statements at Home instead of abroad, and the question has frequently been discussed whether they should not be made up at the port of destination. The paper states that the fact cannot be ignored that for some years the colonial adjustments have not been regarded, with favour in England. In the case of the Oroya, many shippers refuse to pay the general average on the ground that the demand should be made in the colony. Of course, when the goods have passed out of the possession of the shippers the consignees in the colony have to pay their contribution. All interested in the general average should, however, insist upon their contributions being held in trust, and that the interest received on them pending completion of the average statement shall be credited to the fund, and not retained by shipowners. The Government Astronomer says it is important that the attention of shipowners be called to the fact that several vessels bound to Australia round the Cape recently sighted icebergs. Between 24th January and 2nd March, eleven bergs were seen right in the fairway of ships coming to Australia —one within 700 miles of Albany. Melbourne, March 25.

A report on the timber industry states that the St. Pancras Vestry has laid down 2,000,000 ft of jarrah and 250,000 ft of kauri blocks, which' so far have given every satisfaction.

The brokers urge that the timber should be sent in planks 3ft x 9ft. A farm hand named Moixld, residing at Scarne, fired at a dark object, which in the dusk he took to be a duck, and shot a fellow employee named Kelly dead. Kelly's head was just appearing above the bank where he had been fishing. The Commissioner of Customs has reported to the Premier strongly in favour of the proposal made by Tasmania for a reciprocal treaty, and suggests a basis on which to carry it out. The Cabinet is considering the proposal. Sixteen officers of the Customs Department, 38 postal officers and 161 railway servants have expressed willingness to retire on pensions. A rich discovery of gold has been made at Bendoc, in the Gippsland district, where a quantity of stone gave a yield at the rate of to the ounce (sic). The whaler Antarctic has sailed on another cruise, her eventual destination being Norway. Melbourne, March 2G. Lord and Lady Hopetoun took their departure to-day for Home. The occasion was marked by a public holiday, and the departing Governor and his wife were accorded a most brilliant sendoff. Bunting was flying everywhere, and the

route from Government House to the railway station was lined by many thousands of people. Altogether' it was a great display of enthusiastic loyalty. A somewhat remarkable family libel action has just concluded, after two months' hearing. The plaintiff was Mrs Annie Lange, widow of the late Mr F. C. Lange, of the firm of Lange and Thoneman. She sued Dr Charles Bage, of South Tarra, who is her son-in-law, claiming ,£IOOO damages for slander and libel. The libel consisted in an assertion by the defendant that Mrs Lange was not in her right mind, and was unable to control her affairs. The jury awarded her «£750 damages and costs. Perth, March 26.

A great rush has set in to the Lake Darlot field, where the original prospector dollied 2000 oz of gold in eight weeks. Thursday Island, March 22.

A series of earthquake shocks were felt at Port Moresby and other parts of New Guinea on the 6th and 7thinst. The first shock lasted three minutes. No damage was done, but the natives were in great consternation. It is surmised that an extinct volcano on the island has opened up.