AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 36

AUSTRALIAN.

Melbourne, April 29

Mr Clarksou, Government Engineer of South Australia, who was deputed to make an independent examination of the steamer Wendoureo on behalf of the Sangster Enquiry Board, has presented his report. He states that the bunkers were so thin that it was dangerous to carry coal in them. He could knock a hole through anywhere with a hammer. The frame was almost eaten through, and he found serious cracks in the combustion chambers of tho boilers, while tho decks wero very thin in many placos, and all the boilers were leaking. Melbourne, April 30. The Sangster Board has decided to ask the Government of South Australia to permit Mr Campbell, Engineering Surveyor, to give evidence as to the circumstances under which ho allowed tho stoamor Wendoureo to proceed to sea. Melbourne, May 1.

Goake, tho fraudulent Daylosford solicitor, has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Tho liquidators of Chaffey Brothers, Limited, state that the collapse of tho company was due to the meagre proportion of the paid-up capital received in cash, which burdened the company with the deadweight of interest, and made it practically impossible for it to succeed. ft is further stated that tho eagerness shown to obtain money at any cost was a sign of recklessness in management. In attempting to escape tho necessity of liquidation the company in one case paid 18 per cent, to float a loan, and in another as high as (iH per cent.

Melbourne, May 2

When tho Premier cabled Homo for Maxim guns, it was understood tho cost would bo .£2OO apiece, but the Government has since received a cable message stating that they will cost =CIOO each. Tho Premier is now dubious about incurring tho increased expenditure. Melbourne. May 4.

The Government has instructed the Agent-General to purchaso the Maxim guns required at tho increased price of i'loo apieco. Tho Premier has received a reply from Mr Ward, Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, with reference to the tax on Victorian commercial travellers in Xow Zealand. Mr Ward says ho is unable to agree with tho statement that tho tax seriously affects the trade of Victorian merchants in New Zealand, and asks Mr Turner to consider the etl'ect the exemption of non-resident traders in New Zealand would have upon the local merchants, who are subject to income tax. He adds that the tax was imposed in consequence of the difficult/ experienced by the representatives of nonresident merchants in miking the return.>f the business done by them and thojiroiils aiisiug therefrom. lie Iris carefully watched the effect of the tax, and has heard many representations on the matter, but at present regrets, he says, that he does not consider it advisable to make any alteration. Sydney, April 29. Speaking at Broken Hill, Mr Keid, the Premier, referring to women's vote at the South Australian elections, said he favoured female suffrage, hut there was no chance of a Hill coining down this session to give effect to that principle. lie supported deciding tho question by the referendum. Sydney, April 30.

lI.M. surveying ship Penguin is leaving to-morrow to take a scientific expedition, sent out by tho lioyal Geographical Society under tho leadership of Professor Solaoas, to tho Gilbert Group. The expedition will endeavour to solve, the problem of coral ieef formation, with regard to which scientists have hitherto been divided between two theories.

The Hon Messrs Davies and Humphreys have been elected directors of the Mutual Life Association of Australasia,

At the half-yearly meeting of the Colonial Sugar Company a dividend of 10 per cent, was [declared. The report was adopted. Sydney, May 1. The Government notify that from July Ist the interest on all deposits in the Savings Lank will be reduced from 3.1 per cent, to 3 per cent. Sydney, May 3. Tho ship Ellen A. Iteid, from Newcastle to Manila, with 3000 tons of coal, has been towed into Sydney with her cargo on lire.

Tho outbreak took place between tho decks under the forward house, and was discovered when the ship was 75 miles from land.

It had then a good hold, and a course was shaped for Port Stephens.

All the air inlets were blocked, and holes were cut in the deck through which largo quantities of water wero poured. On reaching Port Stephens tho fire was

sufficiently subdued to allow of tho vessel being towed hero, when tho fire was quickly extinguished. The hold is badly scorched, and tho cargo damaged. This is another of many recent cases of tho heating of cargoes by spontaneous combustion.

Tho overtures for tho resumption of work at the New Lambton Colliery, where the men had agreed to a hewing rate of 3s (Id, have proved futile. The strike is causing heavy demands on the Southern miners for the funds to enable 3000 men to carry on the strike.

The strike at Hudson Bros.' ironworks has practically fizzled out, and tho men, with few exceptions, have returned to work.

Another attempt is to be made to recover the gold from the wreck of tho steamer Catterthun. The insurance companies have fitted up a steamer with specially-con-structed diving apparatus, and hope to overcome the difficulty of searching at the depth at which the vessel wank. This steamer will leave to-morrow for the scene of the wreck".

Sydney, May 3

Hospital Sunday was observed in tho city and suburbs to-day, and was marked by success of the collections. The returns are not yob complete, but the amount exceeds that of last year by several hundred pounds. Brisbane, April 30.

Cabinet has appointed Mr Robert J. Gray, Principal Under-Secretary of Bailways, successor to Mr Mathioson (who has been appointed Railway Commissioner in Victoria), at a salary of .£ISOO per annum, and Mr Thallon, Chief Manager, has been appointed Deputy-Commissioner at ,£IOOO. The ollice of Under-Secretary has been abolished.

Brisbane, May 2

Mr Donald McKonzie, a station-owner at Laura, has been murdered by blacks. A special train carrying a number of troopers has been despatched to the vicinity of tho scene of the outrage.

Brisbane, May 4

An old man named Longlands, going home at llulimba drunk, quarrelled with his wife, and shot her twice through tho body. She has since died. Longlands has been arrested.

Adelaide, May 4

The Conference of Ministers of Agriculture has adopted resolutions in favour of further exploiting the world's markets, and Federal action in improving the mot hods of marketing produce, branding stock, and stamping out fruit pests.