GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2415, 22 January 1895, Page 2

GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. — Copyright. Received Jamtary 22, 1 a.m. FLOODS THREATENED IN AUSTRALIA. Sydney, January 21. It has been raining for a week past, the downpour at times being particularly heavy. The northern rivers have overflowed their banks, and the country between Kempsey and Port Macquarie is under water. At the former place five inches of rain, and at the latter ten inches have fallen since Friday last. THE UNACCOUNTABLE CURRENT OP TRADE. Melbourne, January 21. For a year or two past trade ba; been drifting from hero, chiefly to Sydney, and at a conference between representatives of the Chamber of Commerce- and the Harbour Trust, at .which the matter was discussed, it was decided to suggest that the Government should ■ allow a rebate on wharfage rates with a view of enticing shipping to the port. THE NEW SOUTH AT ALES COLLIERY TROUBLE. Sydney, January 21. The attempt to make a local agreement between the ATallsend miners and the proprietary of the mine has failed. The stumbling-block is believed to be the refusal of the management to increase tho yardage rates. . Several lodges have rejected the Delegate Board’s resolution, and it is anticipated that the hitch at the ATallsend mine will cause others to reject it too, as the Wallsend is always regarded as the leader in any new movement. - ’ The "Wickham and Bullock Island collieries have notified a similar reduction to that at the Hetton mine. ! . SINGULAR'MISHAP TO A P. AND 0.. STEAMER. . .. Albany, January 21..' AThile the P. and O. steamer Himalaya was in harbour on Saturday, the salt-water pipe from the condensing engine burst, causing a rapid inflow of water, which could not be stopped for sometime. All the pumps were set going, but there was about sft of water in the hold before repairs were effected. The weight of water caused the vessel to settle down considerably, with tho result that her keel was within a few inches of the ground, and had she grounded she would probably have capsized. ... . . The steamer proceeded bn her voyage after the water was pumped out. THE PEOPLE OP FIJI IN TERRIBLE STRAITS. Sydney, January 21. In connection with the. recent hurricane at Fiji,,a private letter states that the most dreadful thing of all is still to come, in the.shape of starvation. How the unfortunate people who have lost -everything -by the .hurricane' are to keep body and soul together is a mystery. Hundreds are now eating food unfit for human consumption, so that an epidemic of dysentery may be expected ,to make its appearance. THE NARRABEEN DROATNING FATALITY. ... Sydney, January 21. . The Narrabeoh fatality, by which the two-youn g men Baldock and Parkes were drowned, was the result of bathing, not bcating. as at first reported. A _heavy . breaker came on-the men. unawares, and swept two of them to s e a, The third man was rescued and recovered. Parkes was only, recently married, f-