AUSTRALAIN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1403, 19 January 1899, Page 31

AUSTRALAIN.

Sydney, Janurry 11. c The Government has sanctioned the c despatch of 60 Lancers to Aldershot for six I months'training-, the c>st to be borne by several well-known Australian residents in London. , Wellington, a small township 248 miles r N.W. of Sydney on the Macquarie, has been visited by a cyclone which did great j damage, the loss occasioned being estimated . at X2ooo* One of the local churches was unroofed, and several chimneys were blown j down. - Sydney, January 12. The Premiers of Victoria (Sir George •; Turner), South Australia (Hon C. C. , Kingston) and Tasmania (Sir E. C. N. Braddon) have signified their agreement to the proposed conference of Premiers, and to the admission of Queensland to it. The conference, which was proposed by the Hon G. Beid (Premier of New South Wales), is to meet at Melbourne on the 31st inst. . In his letter to the Premier of Victoria suggesting the desirability of holding a conference of Premiers prior to the meeting of the Federal Council, Mr Eeid pointed out that the Bill drafted by the National Council of 1897 for a federal union was referred to the electors of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Although the Bill was approved by large majorities in the three latter colonies, the total number of votes" recorded in its favour in New South Wales did not reach the statutory minimum, the result being equivalent in point of law to a rejeetion of the measure. During the recent session the Parliament of the Mother Colony had, by a separate series of resolutions in each House, set out the most prominent objections to the Bill.' "I believe," continues the letter, "that there exists in the other colonies, which have been actively engaged in the movement a desire that an effort should be made to amend the draft Bill in some respects, so as to ensure, or at least improve, the prospects of its acceptance in this part of Australia. If I am not mistaken in the latter view, important questions immediately present themselves. In the first place, as to the procedure to be followed in order that the matters we propose to submit, and those which any other Government may wish to submit, may be duly considered, and in the end submitted to the constituencies—the decision of a simple majority should be universally accepted. I think, after the thorough discussion of the subject • which has taken place, it ampears to this Government that whatever the subsequent stage 3 may be, the first step in a renewed advance towards union is a meeting of the Prime Ministers of the colonies hitherto acting together, or of those Prime Ministers who consent, or will be able,: to attend a meeting of that character." Sir, John Forrest (Premier of Western Australia) has informed Mr Eeid of his acquiescence with the conference proposal. Sir Julian Salamons, Q.CJ. (the wellknown barrister and a member of the Legislative Council), has been appointed to succeed Sir Daniel Cooper as Agent-General in London for a period of 12 months. Sydney, January 13. The lambing returns of the colony shows an average of 52} per cent.—an increase of 9$ per cent, as compared with the previous year's figures. Sydney, January 14. The returns of the Australian Mutual Provident Society show that the new business last year amounted to over £3,750,000—the largest since 1892. Each individual colony showed a substantial increase over the figures of the previous year, the aggregate increase being over £600,000. Three armed men stuck up one Robinson, a Singer sewing machine agent, near Helensburgh, 27 miles south of Sydney, and robbed him of over £B. At a meeting of carpenters and joiners it was decided to demand 9s per day or strike on Monday. It is understood that the majority of the employers are prepared to concede the increase. A quantity of sulphuric acid took fire on the steamer Tyrian on the voyage from Melbourne to Sydney, and some panic took place amongst the passengers. The stuff was thrown overboard, and the vessel was found to be only slightly damaged. Melbot/bne, January 11. The Premier (Sir George Turner) has agreed to the proposal of the Hon G. Beid (Premier of New South Wales) that a conference of Premiers should be held to consider the federation question. He suggests that the meeting should be held in Melbourne on the 31st inst. He also agrees that the Premier of Queensland (the Hon Mr Dickson) should be invited. MiLBOtrwNE, January 12. A cyclone struck a drovers' camp near Hawkwood. Throe horse 3 were swept over a bank and killed, The cloud then burst, and Sin of rain, accompanied by huge hailstones fell in 20 minutes. Every tree for 20 inilea around was stripped, and birds, rats and other small animals killed. A drover was knocked about and had a narrow escape fiom death. Melbourne, January 13. The Conference of the Ministers of Agriculture of the various colonies has lieen opened and has discussed Mr Cteddes scheme for the establishment of meat depots in England and the reduction of ocean freights. No decision has yet been arrived at. , Melbourne, January 14. The Conference of the Ministers of Agriculture of the various colonies has decided that Mr Geddes* scheme for the distribution of Australian produce in England is not acceptable, but that fiteps should immediately. be taken to

secure better methods of handling,' storing and distributing Australian products in England; also that, with this object, a representative should be despatched to England to make inquiries. It was also decided that the present time is inopportune for making any joint arrangements as to the reduction of ocean freights, but that the Hon Mr Taverner, the Victorian Minister of Agriculture, in making arrangements for the new Victorian contracts, should keep in view the possibility of an arrangement beneficial to the other colonies.

The proposals submitted for the opening of direct trade between Australia and Manchester were found not to be acceptable, as they would mean that the Governments interested would have to pay the whole cost of developing tho new trade.

It was agreed that tho officer to be appointed in connection with tho food distribution scheme be deputed to inquire into the matter. Resolutions were carried in favour of developing trade with South Africa, uniform quarantine regulations, and the reduction oj freights on imported stud stock.

Tho Conference approved the dra f t Brands Bil} of New South Wales, f:nd recommended its adoption as far as possible by the other colonies.

Tho Conference has now closed. Melbourne, January 16. For the half year just passed the railway revenue shows an increase of £71,000 over the corresponding half year in 1897, Adelaide, January 12. The Superintendent of Telegraphs reports that the value of the cablegrams received and despatched from Australia last year was £464,000, as compared with £495,000 the previous year. The number of messages decreased by nearly 26,000.

Newcastle, January 14

Several leading miners' lodges have rejected the rates proposed to bo paid by the colliery proprietors under the newweighing regulations. It is a foregone conclusion that the majority of the lodges will reject the proprietors' proposals

Brisbane, January 16

Tho will of the late Hon T. J. Byrnes, Premier of Queensland, who died in September last, has been lodged for probate. The estate is sworn at under £20,000.