AUSTRALIAN NEWS

New Zealand Mail, 29 January 1902, Page 26

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

M ELUOUItNE, January 23. Tho Hon 11. 10. O’Connor, Vice-Presi-dent of tiic Executive Council, speaking in the Federal Senate, said the only reason Argentine meat was included in tho War Office contracts was the prevalent possibility of supplies being blocked m the event of drought or famine in Australia. A further warrant for £SOO on behalf of tho owners, captain and crew of the tug Champion has been issued against tho ship Port Patrick, which was lately abandoned off Wilson’s Promontory. It is reported that the Oceanic Company intends to make Melbourne a port of call for its San Francisco mail steamers. Tho Federal House has fixed the duty on barbed wiro at 10 per cent., instead of 20 per cent., as originally proposed. Telegraphic communication is greatly disorganised by the storm. Much damage was dono and many houses were unroofed in tho country. Tho Melbourne express met the full force of the storm, and at one part of tho journey to Sydney an extra engine

had to ho attached to enable the train ! to make headway. During the height of the gale the tug j Reckless, which was being towed to Gee- | long with two men and women and several children aboard, broke adrift and ran on the rocks near Frankston. A scratch crew of fishermen, in face : of a heavy sea and at great risk, res- j cued the passengers and crew from their | perilous position. MELBOURNE, January 24. i Arriving. vessels bear evidences of the fierceness of the gale. The Ormuz had three boats smashed, her fittings badly j damaged, and she was completely swept by heavy seas. The captain estimates • the rapidity of the wind at a hundred miles an hour. The yacht Alfreda has been wrecked at Brighton. In reference to the statement with re- ■ gard to the New Hebrides, made by M. Delcasse, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the French Chamber, Mr Barton says it is not intended to make any further representations about the New Hebrides ! to the Imperial Government at present. ! He recently received a cable message stating that negotiations were proceed- j ing between England and France on the matter. In the tariff debate the proposal to place linotypes, monotypes and kindred macin'nery on the free list is under discussion. SYDNEY, January 23. j Owing to want of water and the fall in the price of copper, most of the mines in the Cobar district, about 460 miles west of Sydney, have been closed. Over five hundred men have been thrown out of employment. The representatives of the meat export trade consider that the admission of the Argentine into contracts for the army in South Africa will have a bad effect in Australia. One exporter says 'it will mean that ■■ very little Australian meat will even- 1 tually be used, because the quality of Argentine is higher and it can be supplied at less cost. Another says that; the worst outcome will be the establish-, ment of regular lines of steamers be-1 tween South America and South Africa. ! which, apart from the meat trade, would be impossible. i Some flags were half-masted yesterday in memory of the late Queen Victoria, and a Royal salute was fired, but there was nothing like any general observation of the anniversary. A solitary wreath was placed on the late Queen’s statue. i The Bishop or Melanesia has arrived I in Sydney after a trip round that extensive island diocese. He visited all the schools and stations, and found that everything connected with the mission was going on well. The Bishop broke new ground at the island of Tikopia. where he left two teachers. The islanders are Polynesians, of fine physique, wearing their hair down to the waist. The tallest islander seen was Gft Tin in height. On In’s return journey the Bishop found there was a famine at Tikopia. Numbers of tlie islanders were dying, ; and it was necessary to remove the j teachers. What relief was possible was given. After a short stay in Sydney, Bishop Wilson proceeds to England to buy a new mission vessel. It is reported from the Pacific Is- ! lands that tribal fighting has been rife ! for some time at Santo. A number of i natives had been killed or wounded. SYDNEY, January 24. The Bishop of Melanesia considers that the federal legislation dealing with | coloured labour will hasten the work of ! Christianising and civilising the islands. 1 The returned islanders will carry with j them the effects of education and C'hrisI tian teachings.

The “ Sydney Morning Herald ” and the " Daily Telegraph ” unfavourably comment on the inclusion of a proportion of Argentine meat in army meat contracts, and urge the necessity of steps being taken to prevent the interests of Argentine shippers being served at the expense of Australia. SYDNEY, January 2G. No signs have been found of the body of the Chinaman who disappeared mysteriously at Yamba. The police have found bloodstains in the hut and boat which belonged to the missing man.