AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1315, 13 May 1897, Page 36

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, May 5. . In the Assembly last night, Mr O’Sullivan moved the adoption of the report of the Old-Age Pensions Committee. The Postmaster-General, Mr "Cook, took exception to the character of the recommendations, especially the taxing of the totalisator. He could not look upon racing and other forms of gambling’ as a species of amusement. They were vices of the worst character. Any successful old-age pension scheme would have to depend to a large extent upon tlie accumulation of wealth from succession or death duties. He suggested that the Government be requested to give early consideration to the question. Mr Neild moved an amendment covering the Minister’s suggestion, and this was adopted. The report of the Varnoy Parkes Enquiry Commission has been tabled in tho Assembly, and exonerates the responsible efficers of the Public Works Department of

1 all suspicion of improper conduct in relation to the charges made, i The Executive has commuted the capital sentence on Plimmer, charged with a brutal criminal offence at Dubbo, to penal servitude for life and 25 lashes. The Attorney-General has obtained an official report with reference to press statements that while in Auckland the detective made certain revelations with reference to Butler’s confession and other matters. In accepting the detective’s denial, the Attorney-General says that if the flagrant breaches of duty had been proved true the man would have been dismissed. In the House of Assembly, Mr Carruthers gave notice of the introduction of the Federal Convention Bill to-morrow.. Mr Barton has accepted the invitation of the Government to accept nomination for the Upper House, accompanied by a special request to take charge of the Convention Bill in the Council. Tffie Executive has confirmed the sentence on the man Hines, condemned to death at Maitland for a brutal' criminal offence. Sydney, May 7. The report of the Commission appointed to enquire into the firing of coal cargoes has been published. It shows that all cargoes which heated were loaded at high temperatures and mostly in large ships, which causes fires by spontaneous combustion and the shifting of cargoes.. The report states that the system of loading at present in vogue at Newcastle is antiquated, and cannot be placed on a satisfactory footing until it is entirely reorganised. Several other recommendations are made for improving the loading and trimming. The report recommends that cranes bo altered so as to admit waggons being lowered to the hatchways of ships, with a view to prevent the excessive breaking of coal; favours the adoption of Lewis and Hunter’s system of loading: very large ships should not be loaded on days when the maximum shade of temperature _ is above 80 degrees, surface ventilation only should be employed with regard to trimming. The report is unable to recommend any form of Government inspection, or that the licensing of trimmers should be adopted, as it was shown to be in the power of masters of ships to secure adequate trimming. The Commission is of opinion, however, that no iron or steel ships should engage in the coal trade without shifting boards being provided. The Commission report shows that of 13 coal-laden ships which left Newcastle, whose cargoes were known to be heated, 10 sailed for ports north of the Equator, and three for ports south of the Equator, while of the 17 missing, five sailed for ports north of the Equator, and 12 for the south of the Equator. It is conjectured that some six out 'of the 17 were burned, while others were lost from other causes. The addition of the Aorangi to the Canadian Pacific fleet was made the occasion of a ceremony to-day. The members of the Ministry and leading representatives of commercial and financial circles were entertained at luncheon on board the vessel by the directors of the Company. Replying to the toast of the Company, Mr Grayson, Huddart, Parker and Co.’s representative in the colonies, stated that the Aorangi would on her second trip to Vancouver include Wellington, New Zealand, as a port of call. The weather has turned extremely cold, and snow has fallen in several places in the highlands. This, added to the drought which still prevails in the interior, is causing groat mortality among the stock. In the Assembly, Mr Lyne, Leader of the Opposition, continued the debate on the Financial Statement. He ridiculed the surplus, and accused the Premier, Mr Reid, of filching money from different accounts and crediting it to the surplus. During the last three or four years over £7,000j)00 v/as obtained wrongfully from sales of land. 4 Mr McMillan attacked the Premier’s system of bookkeeping, and said it started by the flotation of <£1,000,000 worth of Treasury Bills to cover deficiencies, and this amount only liquidated on paper.

The shareholders of the Joint Stock Bank have adopted the schedule of the amended arrangement previously adopted by the depositors. Sydney, May 8. The Assembly has passed three months’ supply, including £IOOO to cover the Premier’s trip to England. Heavy gales and rough seas have been experienced on the coast. In consequence of the drought in the inland districts, sheep are being rushed in larger numbers to boiling down works. The Railway Commissioners have made heavy reductions in carriage rates in order to assist the graziers. Melbourne, May 5. In connection with the supply of horses required for the British Army remounts, the Acting-Premier has cabled to the Agent-General to bring under the notice of the British Government that Victoria was ready and willing to send regular supplies of horses and fodder. Mr Isaacs, Acting-Premier, has cabled to the Agent-General to ascertain whether it is true that the War. Office is making large purchases of horses in the Argentine, and pointing out that Victoria is a suitable field for the purchases. The reply was that the Government was not purchasing a large quantity, but was merely trying the experiment. The War Office requests the price of Victorian horses 15 hands 2 inches high. The public tendered £7150 for the third issue of the £20,000 Credit Poncier bonds and the Savings Bank the balance. The whole was allotted at par. Melbourne, May 6. Between 400 and 500 members of the Chinese Cabinetmakers’ Union have struck for the minimum wage of 7s Cd per day fixed under the Factories Act. The employers state their willingness

to pay tlio prescribed wages, but say the men are not qualified to earn tliem. The Rev Dr Marshall has been nominated as Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly. Melbourne, May 7. The Acting-Premier has sent another cable to the Agent-General urging him to impress upon the WAr Office autlioi’ities that Victoria can supply a much better type of horse at a lower price than the Argentine, and asking them to try at least one shipment. Melbourne, May 8. The Acting-Premier has appointed the Government Statistician and each leading officer in the Treasury, Customs, Income Tax and Postal Departments a committee to investigate and report on the financial proposals of the Federation Convention Bill. The Railway Commissions will also supply a report dealing with the railway question. Melbourne, May 10. A shocking accident occurred in the Band and Albion mine. An engineer named Strick went into a small chamber underneath the pumping engine to take a measurement of part of the machinery. To assist his purpose he sent the engine-driver to turn on a little steam. After doing so the latter heard a piercing scream, and, rushing back, found Strick transfixed by the plug rod of the engine, which rises and falls with the motion cf the engine. The rod entered near the right hip, and went clean through the body to the left side. The unfortunate man died four hours later. Perth, May 5. Two men named Read and Conoley have been arrested in connection with the murder of the woman Waino, near Coolgardie. They met a camel driver, and deliberately shot one of the animals. The police tracked them through the bush for 30 miles from town, and found them heavily armed. Conoley attempted to draw a rovolver when arrested. The position of the Parties is—Ministerialists, 23 ; Opposition, 19; Independent, 3. Mr Piesse, Commissioner of Railways, has been elected unopposed. Perth, May 7. The gold export from Coolgardie for the year ended April 30th amounted to 150,900 ounces. Perth, May 8. Latest election returns give Ministerialists, 27 ; Opposition, 26 ; and Independent, 6. Brisbane, May 9. The Governor officially opened the International Exhibition yesterday in the presence of an immense crowd. The city was enfate for the occasion. The Chief Inspector of Stock reports that the first experiment of inoculating stock to give them immunity from the prevalent fever has proved a failure. The injection of the fever blood gave them the disease in very virulent form. Adelaide, May 6. The drought continues very severe, especially in the north. Saturday and Sunday are fixed as days of humiliation and prayer for rain. Hobart, May 8. Parliament meets on 22nd July to deal with the Convention Bill. The weather is intensely cold. Heavy snow is falling. Cooktown, May 8. The remains of three whites, who had evidently been killed and eaten by the natives, have been discovei’ed. Reports from New Guinea state that the rainy season is over. The health of the miners is improving.