AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1206, 12 April 1895, Page 30

AUSTRALIAN.

Melbourne, April 4. A£ the annual meeting of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, the directors' report showed satisfactory results for the past year. A total of 2886 policies were issued, assuring .£863,621. The»total funds now exceed .£1,750,000. The new business since the commencement totals over ,£21,000,000. Enquiries concerning the Rand claimant nave brought some peculiar fact 3 to light. For 30 years he worked on the Murray Biver as a fisherman and general 1 labourer, under different names, including that of Tichborne. When asked if he was related to the celebrated Tichborne Claimant, he eaid he might be. He adopted the name Band a few months ago, after he met a man named Lassam, who told him he had a commission from Mr Rand, of Mahonga Station, to discover the whereabouts of a son who had been missing for years, the desire of Mr Rand's life being to have his son back. After Mr Rand, of Mahonga, died, Lassam discovered the son in the present claimant of the estate.

Band has been sentenced to three months' imprisonment. The Premier (Mr Turner), replying to the letter of Mr Kingston, Premier of South Australia, with reference to the reciprocity treaty between New Zealand and South Australia, says no line of political conduct could be more disastrous to Federation, or more subversive of that mutual, good feeling which is indispensable to its achievement, than the system of aggressive alliance unhappily inaugurated by South Australia. He appeals to Mr Kingston to retrace his steps, so as not to retard Federation indefinitely. The Jewish congregation has decided, ■with the consent of the Chief Rabbi, to introduce organ music into the Synagogue. The more orthodox portion of the congregation are strongly against the innovation, as being opposed to Jewish principles; but the majority are of opinion that the change is necessary, so as to bring the ritual in harmony with the advanced Judaism of other countries and the advanced ideas of many members of the Jewish congregation. The choral portion of the service will be rendered by organ music and a mixed choir for the first time in any Jewish synagogue in Australia on the first day of the present Passover season. An important action has been begun by Mr Rigg, civil engineer, against the Standard Bank and others, claiming .£49,000 as damages for not financing the eale of the Richmond Vale Coal Mine, East Maitland. As part of the retrenchment scheme, the gunboats Victoria and Albert have been laid up, necessitating the retirement of 54 officers and men of the Permanent Naval Force. Forty-three officers of the Permanent Artilleiy have also retired on six months' compensation. Between 20 and 30 more will be retired shortly. The saving effected will be about «£ 12,000 per year. The Postal Department is increasing the rate of telegraphic messages from 6d to 9d. Under the present arrangement the department has been sending messages at a loss cf 5d per message. Under the new arrangement the rates, coupled with retrenchment, just cover the cost.

Melbourne, April 5

While paying money into the Bank of Australasia, a clerk -was robbed of .£370, chiefly notes. Mr Downie, contractor, is suing the Victorian Newspaper Company, which lately owned the Herald, for alleged libel in connection with the mysterious disappearance of documents from the Public Works Department. The plaintiff was engaged in arbitration with the department at the time. The damages are laid at fifteen thousand.

Melbourne, April 8. Rand has been committed for trial charged with an unnatural offence. H.M.S. Rapid, which sailed at the end of the week for New Zealand, has been signalled from Wilson's Promontory. She appeared to be standing back to port. Her signals were not quite clear, but it is thought her return is due either to sickness or an accident. One report says the signals read—" Several bad cases on board." . Mr Wilson's report shows that the total dairy produce exported last season was as follows: —Butter, 11,500 tons, as compared with 7300 tons for the previous season; cheese, 370 tons. The total value of the produce exported for the year was £1, 119,000. The report urges the Government to make a small charge for grading, packing, and supervising the export. Sydney, April 4.

The Minister of Public Works, replying to a deputation asking the Government to take steps to mitigate the disastrous effects of the flooding of the Hunter River, said the works necessary for the purpose would cost £4,000,000. He thought, however, they could be carried out if a rate of a penny in the pound were struck and they were conducted on the betterment principle. He requested the deputation to enquire how the betterment principle could be applied. In the Legislative Assembly good progress has been made in committee with the Local Government Bill. The Land Bill has been read the third time and passed by the Legislative Council. , Early this morning the express train from Sydney ran into a mob of cattle which had escaped from yards near Wagga. Nineteen head of cattle were killed and many others injured. An empty sleeping carriage was derailed. The passengers felt a slight shock, but no one was injured.

The Rabbit Pest Conference has expressed the opinion • that the present Rabbit Act is a failure, and should be repealed. It has been resolved that the Stock Boards should undertake the destruction of the pest, and be empowered to make special levies to raise funds for the destruction of rabbits, and also for the maintenance and erection of rabbit-proof barrier fences ; further, that the Crown take steps to ensure the re-occapation of the abandoned areas upon any terms. . Mr O'Sullivan has given notice of a Bill providing that a new Governor shall receive only half-pay from, the time he embarks to his arrival in the colony, and if retiring; shall remain in office until the arrival of his successor, the latter not to receive any payment till he assumes the position. In the event of there being necessity for an Acting-Governor, he is to receive only half-pay and half the} salary he receives from any other office he may hold. also provides that Government House shall be kept in repair by the State, and the Governor shall pay 6 per cent, on the value of the furniture in the rooms not used for the reception of the public. The Governor's allowance, it is proposed, shall not exceed £2500 per annum. Hudson Bros., ironmasters, have notified the members of their clerical staff of the firm's intention to dispense with their services. This is taken to indicate that the company is determined to close rather than yield to the strikers. Sydney, April 5.

The Sydney Morning Herald, commenting on the third reading of the Bill, says the measure was carried by less than one-third of the members of the House. More than that number thought it not worth while to stay to secure it, and less than a thirteenth part of the House stayed to oppose a Bill so menacing to the security of important interests —those of capital in the first instance, and those of labour secondly. This, it says, is the significant fact of the situation, and an equally significant question is, How are the very large number of members who did not vote to be regarded ? For a large portion of them it is only possible to hold the belief that they opposed the principles of the measure, but had not the courage to vote against it, and preferred to devolve the responsibility of dealing with the Bill on the . Legislative Council. If, says the Herald, this supposition is correct, it puts the standard of the courage, sense, and responsibility of the Representative Chamber in a deplorable light before the country. The court-martial acquitted Captain Close of the charge of seduction brought against him by the young woman Cummings, and also of suggesting an illegal operation, but held him guilty of traducing the woman's character. The Executive, with whom the final decision rested, reviewed the finding, and upheld the Court with regard to the acquittal, but quashed the finding of guilty. Close was therefore fully acqtutted. In the Legislative Assembly last night the Conciliation, and Arbitration Bill was read the third time on division by 39 votes to 9, and finally passed. A numerously-signed petition has been presented to the Legislative Council against the Land and Income Tax Bill. Mr Young, Minister for Public Works, is reorganising the Public Works Department, and expects to save .£20,000 a year. The recent re-arrangement of the Postal Department will save ,£3OOO a year. Sydney, April 6. George Dean, of North Sydney, who was found guilty of attempting to poison his

wife, wa3 found guilty, but recommended to mercy. His Honor passed sentence of death. The woman was ill for some time, and traces of different poisons -were found in her food and medicine. The case was a very mysterious one, and there no direct evidence against the husband, who strongly maintained his innocence. To-day was Hospital Saturday, and over 2000 lady volunteers collected £2625, as against £1675 for last year. Sydney, April 7. The bowling team on their arrival from Auckland were met, and hearty welcome extended to them, by the president and members of the New South Wales Bowling Association. Captain Close was released immediately on the decision of the court-martial, but has been granted leave, pending further instructions. Sydney, April 8. The Rev H. R. Haweis is a passenger by the Miowera, and begins an extended lecturing tour in the colonies. In the course of an interview, Sir Maurice O'Rorke referred in favourable terms to the working of the time limit on speeches in the New Zealand House of Representatives, but said an alteration was t needed to make the system apply with equal benefit when the House sat in committee. Adelaide, April 4. The Government contemplates an extensive reduction of the military expenditure of the colony.

It is stated that the Board of Arbitration will be called together to consider the dispute at Downes' tannery. Adelaide, April 5.

The Government has decided to make a clean sweep of the militia, and also to make other retrenchments in the Military Service. It is estimated that the saving is £IO,OOO per annum. The Commandant has accepted a reduction in his salary. Hoeart, April 4. A society has been formed, with the Governor as patron, for the protection of Tasmanian game. Brisbane, April 5. The Premier, speaking at Longreach, said he expected his estimated surplus of .£50,000 to be exceeded. He was quite of opinion that the country had started on the up-grade, and in a few years might expect a wholesome recovery in all the industries. The development of the wool and frozen meat trades promised to make the cattle stations some of the best assets in the colony. Brisbane, April 8. Another European leper named John Brown has been discovered at Normanton, and immediately isolated. Perth, April 5. Good water has been struck in the Premier mine at. the 25-mile, and in the Consella mine at the 90-mile.