AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1205, 5 April 1895, Page 32

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, March 29. A fishing boat capsized last night off Botany Bay in the wash of a passing steamer, and four of the occupants Timothy Brennan, James Pemment, Thomas Robertson and William Goldsmith —were drowned. Two other men who were in the boat swam ashore, where they landed in. an exhausted condition. The accident happened in the darkness, and those on board the steamer made no attempt to assist the unfortunate men. The Bill to amend the Conciliation and Arbitration Act passed its second reading in the Legislative Assembly without a division. The measure was then committed. The Hon Mr Garrard said that the award was not compulsory, though he might have to make it so. In the Legislative Assembly to-day, Mr Waddell’s motion that the office of AgentGeneral should not be held by any one occupant for a period exceeding five years was carried with an amendment by the Premier adding the words “ Except by express reappointment.” The mover said that what the colony wanted was a . young and vigorous man in touch with affairs in the colony, especially as the Government intended to place the export of produce trade in the AgentGeneral’s department. I Sydney, March 30. Sir Charles and Lady Lilley were pas-

sengers by the Talune to Wellington yesterday. At a meeting of the Civil Service, a resolution was carried that the contributors to the Superannuation Fund under 55 years of age should cease to contribute, with a view to forming a new fund, to be called the Civil Servants’ Assurance Provident Fund. Th. 6 steamer which upset the fishing boat, by which accident four men were drowned, reports that owing to the darkness the accident was not seen. Sydney, April 1. The revenue for the quarter shows a decrease of <£3400 as compared with the same quarter of the previous year. , Sydney, April 2.

The captain of the Annie Maud, which has arrived from Rio, reports that lie fell in with the barquentine Celestina, from Swansea to Magellan Straits, and found her on fire. The vessel was boarded, when a message was found stating that the crew had left in the boats. The crew of the Annie Maud succeeded in getting the flames partially under, and sailed the derelict to Rio, where the fire was extinguished, and the ship handed over to the British Consul. At Rio it was learned that the crew had been picked up by another vessel. A quantity of wreckage belonging to a ship’s boat was found at Lord Howe Island on March 16th.

The name “ St. Kilda ” is cut on a portion of the wood.

The three-masted schooner St. Kilda left Newcastle on February 24th for New Zealand, and has not yet been reported. At a meeting of supporters of local option, a resolution was passed condemning the action of the Premier in delaying the Local Option Bill till next session as totally unjustifiable, and demanding immediate action. During the past week over 100 Yictorian farmers have arrived in Narandera and the adjoining districts to take up sections. Melbourne, March 29. Replying to a deputation of exporters, the Minister of Agriculture said he was strongly in favour of abolishing the mail subsidy, and had every hope that the efforts* in the direction of establishing an almost weekly service between England and Victoria would be crowned with success. He mentioned that he proposed to recommend the complete reorganisation of the Agent-General’s office in London. His idea was that the members of the present staff should be brought out to Victoria, and their places taken by men acquainted with the conditions and resources of the Colony. Melbourne, March 30.

William Rand, the claimant of the Rand estates, has been arrested on the charge of obtaining money under the pretence of being the late Mr Rand’s son. The Argus suggests that if Australia is allowed more than one representative at the Monetary Conference the numbers should correspond with the relative values of the gold and silver produced in the colonies. This would give four gold representatives to one silver man.

Melbourne, April 1.

The ship Lindisfarne, which left Geelong for London on Tuesday, sprang a leak, and has returned in a water-logged condition. The water gained so rapidly that it was found impossible to cope with it, and the boats were provisioned in case of emergency. Great difficulty was experienced in making port, the ship having a strong list. The damage to the Cargo, which is being discharged, is expected to be serious. The revenue for the nine months shows a surplus of <£lß,ooo on the Treasurer’s estimate. The last quarter showed a decrease of <£123,000 compared with the previous quarter. Rosenfeld, Davis, Storwayand Benjamin, of the firm of Lazarus, Rosenfeld and Benjamin, have been committed for trial on the charge of conspiracy to defraud the Customs by overvaluing goods and obtaining a drawback placed thereon. Melbourne, April 2. William Rand, the claimant of the Rand estates, who was arrested on the charge of obtaining money under the pretence of being the late Mr Rand’s son, has been remanded, and in the meantime a more serious charge will be preferred against him. When arrested he was living in a large mansion, which he had rented on the strength of his representations, at a rental of <£6 per week. He lived in great style, and kept a private secretary. Two families who were living with him had been promised lucrative positions when he came into the estates, and on the strength of these promises both had sold out their businesses in order to join him. Melbourne, April 2. The Crown Law Department has given a fortnight’s notice to selectors to arrange for the payment of arrears, otherwise proceedings will be taken. ' The Treasurer forecasts that the year

will end with a deficiency of =£190,000 on his revenue estimate.

Adelaide, March 29.

A deputation of farmers asked the Government to reconsider the question of reciprocity with New Zealand, which, they declared, would ruin the barley industry. The Premier said if the colony was absolutely incapable of competing with New Zealand, then barley-growing was an exotic industry, and* the growers had better turn their attention to wine and fruit. Adelaide, April 2. Mrs Cameron, who has just returned from New Australia, states that when she left the settlers were doing fairly well. Flour and vegetables were scarce, and cattle had to be sold to purchase these. She brings a letter addressed to the Premier of Queensland asking for assistance for some others to enable them to return. The letter states that many wish to leave the settlement, but are unable to owing to want of money, and that they will die of starvation if not assisted, as the crops are not coming on as they should. The steamer Bhundara has arrived from Singapore with one case of small-pox on board. Adelaide, April 2. A successful trial of a patented process for making cyanides took place before a large number of persons interested in mining. The Governor has approved the regulations for working the Factories Act. In consequence of the success of the trial shipment of live sheep to England, Harrold Bros, are arranging to send Home a second consignment of several hundred crossbreds.

Rabbits are devastating the country in the Cooper’s Creek district. They have completely eaten up the feed, and numbers of cattle are dying of starvation. The pest is reported to be spreading at a great rate to the surrounding districts. The South Australian Register says if the Premier is not convinced of the futility of the proposed treaty with New Zealand by observation here, that conviction should be inevitable after reading the innumerable protests evoked in the New Zealand papers. It adds that there seems not the ghost of a chance of the treaty being accepted by the New Zealand Parliament. Perth, March 10."

An Italian business man has proposed to the Government to set aside a suitable area of land to establish 50 peasant Italian families, who shall undertake, growing the castor oil plant for the production of oil; also sericulture and viticulture. He asks the Government to grant free or assisted passages from Naples, admit the seeds and machinery free, and grant a moderate amount of protection to the industries initiated. Newcastle, March 31. At a meeting of miners’ delegates yesterday, with closed doors, it was, it is understood, decided to resuscitate the Northern Miners’ Association on lines allowing non-unionists who have been taken on at the different collieries to join. Brisbane, April 1. Thirty-five cows and 30 tons of hay were burned in a fire at Prout’s dairy, Belmont. ! The Railway Commissioners have decided to carry wheat and maize for export at half the usual rates. Brisbane, April 2. Ministers complain that they are unable to come to a decision regarding the cable guarantee owing to the New South Wales Government failing to give a reply on the Canadian-Pacific question.