AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1316, 20 May 1897, Page 36

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, May 12. The Federation Bill has been introduced in both Houses, and it is now being considered in committee of the whole. Mr Barton, on taking his seat in the Legislative Council, said he had accepted the responsibility of taking charge of the Federation Bill, but he had in no way altered his disagreement with the Government policy. Mr Want announced that ho would oppose the Bill. For some time there has been an agitation amongst the Newcastle colliery proprietors to raise the selling price of coal. The Scottish and Australian Company, owning Lambton and Burwood pits, have ,taken the initiative and have raised both round and small coal 3d per ton, and it is expected that the other proprietors will follow suit. A general advance will involve conceding- the miners' demands for an increase of the hewing rates. The Marine Board of Newcastle found that the wreck of the barque Adderley was due to an accident to the wing gear. No blame was attached to any one. Sydney, May 13. The body of the Rev William Mcßae, a Presbyterian clergyman, was found in the harbour to-day. He arrived from New Zealand a few months ago, and since then he has been temporarily in charge of a church at Gunnedah, and was visiting the city on church business. At the inquest an open verdict was returned. The forty-eighth annual report of the Australian Mutual Provident Society to be presented to the members at the annual meeting on the 21st instant has been issued, and is of the usual satisfactory character. It discloses an increased amount of new business written, represented by 11,6*25 policies assuring J 53.055.358, yielding an annual i revenue of .£106,088, being in excess of any : year since 1892. The mortality experience of the Society for the year has been

favourable, being well within the expectation. The usual searching investigation into the mortgage securities has been made, and notwithstanding the large reserves already held it has been resolved to set aside a further sum of £50,000 towards the reserve for depreciation. On this occasion, however, it has been decided to absolutely write off an amount of £190,828 against the properties which have been acquired by the Society through foreThe report of the actuary, Mr Richard Teece, F.1.A., F.F.A., is appended to the directors' report, and from this it appears that, as on last occasion, the valuation of the liabilities under all policies issued since 31st December, 1893, has been made at 3| per cent, interest, while for all previous to that date the rate is £3 12s 6d per cent. A reserve of £72,250 is also set aside on the present occasion in order to enable the valuation of the whole of the liabilities to be made at 3-|- per cent, at the end of the current year. The amount to be distributed among the members is £428,796, yielding reversionary bonuses of about £830,000, and the csrtificates will be issued with the customary despatch. The ratio of expenses is only slightly in excess of last year, the rate being about 8f per cent. on the total annual income; the slight increase shown here being mainly due to the introduction of a system of direct taxation in Sew South Wales. The effective rate of interest for the year show 3 a slight decline, being. at the rate of £5 03 od per cent. Mr Coghlan's report on the trade of Australasia for 1896 shows that the imports totalled .£62,61-8,000, an increase of £11,884,000 compared with the previous year. The exports totalled £65,810,000, an increase of .£2,505,000 as compared with the previous year. New South Wales is responsible for 3372 per cent, of the whole trade; Victoria, 2225. New Zealand stands third with 1273. The exports of domestic produce showed a total increase of £792,000. With reference to the domestic exports, Mr Coghlan says the only colonies which have made a perceptible advance during the year are New Zealand and Tasmania, with increases of 12 89 and 930 per cent, respectively. New South Wales wan practically stationary, while the other colonies all showed heavy falls in values in domestic exports. The Presbyterian Assembly decided against women occupying seats on committees of management by 38 votes to 24. Sydney, May 14. The Bailway Commissioners have decided to allow a rebate of 25 per cent, on fodder carried for the purpose of saving starving cattle in the drought - stricken districts. The Hon A. J. Thynne, Minister for Agriculture, Queensland, is visiting Sydney. He states that Queensland is practically certain to take part in the next Federal Convention. Sydney, May 16. A prospector named O'Connor has unearthed a 31oz nugget from an old diggings. Eastern news tells of a serious outbreak of the bubonic plague at Macao. People are fleeing from the city. At a meeting of butter exporters it was resolved to forward to the Minister of Agriculture a strongly-worded resolution protesting against the statements which had appeared in the press to the effect that New South Wales butter exported to London was of inferior quality. The resolution alleged that the statements were quite unwarranted, the producers being entirely satisfied with the prices obtained, and that the statements are calculated to do a large amount of damage to the dairy industry. Harrowing accounts have been received of the drought in the interior.

It is said to be one of the worst ever experienced. All the feed has disappeared, and sheep are dying- wholesale. One station has lost over 20,000. Many others have suffered a proportionately heavy loss. Many selectors have been completely ruined, and are abandoning' their holding's. Some of the owners as a last resource have been cutting the edible bush where it was possible, and other are sending their stock to the more favoured coastal dis* tricts. Ploughing is at a complete standstill. Even if rain comes within a week-it is feared it will be too late for the grass crops to make headway before the frostfi A few weeks ago an application was made on behalf of Edward Priestnian, who is acting under a power of attorney for the Eev Edward Williams, Catholic priest, Devonshire, England, for an order directing Sir Roger Tichborne, at present confined in the Parramatta Asylum under the name of Creswell, to be given into the custody of the applicant for iemoval to England. Counsel has now given notice of his intention to proceed with the case, and he is only awaiting the necessary affidavit from the Eev Mr Williams. S tenet, May 17. Newhaven was shipped to England by the Oroya in a special box, which cost £SO. Melbourne, May 13. A shocking death has occurred at Colac. An old woman named McKean was standing in front of a fire, when her apron ignited. The unfortunate woman fainted and was slowly roasted to death before the eyes of her husband, who is a paralytic and was unable to assist her. Melbourne, May 16. Two miners named Taylor and Chappel have been suffocated by foul air in the South Star mine, Ballarat. A strong gale has been blowing since yesterday morning, aud heavy rain has fallen in the western district, which promises the break up of the drought. Melbourne, May 17. Ernest Buley, chief senior clerk of the Melbourne Mint, has been committed for trial for stealing ,£I2OO worth of worn silver coins and 100 sovereigns from the bullion-room, to which he Lad access. Recently the fire insurance companies considerably increased their premiums. This action is met by a corresponding reduction in the risks on the part of insurers. The Tramway Trust have reduced their risk by one-half, many other public and private companies taking a similar step. The railway receipts for the March quarter have increased by .£59,000, and for the nine months by £130,000, as compared with the previous corresponding periods. Perth, May 14. Mrs Ackerman, a widow, formerly a resident of Timaru, New Zealand, has succumbed to burns received when her house at Kalgoorlie was destroyed by fire. The woman escaped but returned to the burning building in search of hor daughter, who was lying ill with typhoid fever. The daiaghter had in the meantime been removed, but the mother wa= unaware of this. Perth, May 15. During a heavy gale, the ship Corbett Castle drifted ashore, and is likely to break up. Several other vessels dragged their anchors. Perth, May 17. The Acting-Premier states that the Government is disappointed at the result of the loan, as they expected it would have been over-subscribed. He is at a loss to account for its partial failure. May 14. • Bishop Planner sailed for England in the Orizaba. The Bishop is to attend the Lambeth Conference. Adelaide, May 15. As a result of the earthquake, several lighthouse - keepers report that the machinery is not working satisfactorily, having apparently been thrown out of plumb. Adelaide, May 17. Another severe shock of earthquake was felt at Kingston early on Saturday morning, and since then occasional tremors have been experienced. \ Thursday Island, May 17. The steamer Duke of Devonshire arrived here from London with a full cargo. She struck an unknown obstacle on leaving the harbour, and had to be beached on Friday Island. There is a big hole in her side and 24ft of water in No. 1 hold, and eight feet in No. 2. The others are dry. She lies in a dangerous position. Salvage steamers have gone to her asstance. Probably the whole cargo will have to be discharged. The Duke of Devonshire lies in still water on a sandy bottom. Until the cargo has been removed the extent of the damage to the vessel cannot be ascertained, but the damage to the cargo must be very serious.