AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2582, 7 August 1895, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. ■ ; Melbourne, August (S. ■ With reference to the: non-reeoipt of tenders for the export contracts, the Premier attributes the failure to the action: of a shipping ring.: A special meeting of the Cabinet will be held next week to consider the matter,’and prompt steps will betaken to : secure for the producers the relief which cheaper ocean carriage can alone afford. : Adelaide, August 6. An bid lady named PasoOe living here is thb successful claimant to estates in Cornwall," which are: in Chancery, valued at .£2,000,000.: The case .is known ;in the English Courts as the Hartley; Estate ease. There were two other claimants. ■ A serious Labour difficulty has Arisen at Port Adelaide. The lumpers engaged on the intercolonial steamers.have: struck against .in attempt to alter the rate of . wages paid for .two hours’ work on Saturday., Hitherto they have received 3s, which is as muohas for two-and a-half hours on ordinary days. The owners seek to .make Saturday, a quarter-day of two and a-half hours. : -The strike only, affects Saturday work, and is nob likely to affect > the . week-days, but meanwhile the refusal .to work the steamers on Saturday is causing serious delay. . , . At a large and enthusiastic, public meeting, the ’ Lieut.-Governor presiding, the Australasian Federation .League of South Australia was. formally; inaugurated, and : resolutions in favour, of early Federation were carried.

The report, of the Registrar-General shows that the marriage: rate for the colony, last, year was the ■ lowest: for 20 years, being a little over six per 1000 of the inhabitants, ,as compared with nine in 1882. The . statistics -prove the. growing. disinclination 0f... colonista-,.t0 -enter the, ■married state. , =-- -- Brisbane, August s. Professor Shelton,-Instruotor in Agriculture, states'that the present year will - see the moat complete' failure of the wheat crop that Queensland -has seen for - many years. -He attributes the cause to drought. . ’ Sydney, August 6. ■ - An aboriginal arrested at Wee Vfaa, for a serious offence, -cut his throat in the lookup. Two" native women came ..and saw the body and departed wailing. Shortly after they too were found in their camp with their, throats cut. . All three ire dead.. ... . The fire in Block 11 mine. Broken Hill, is practically extinguished. Thursday Island, August 6. -La Gloria was amongst the few horses •which died on board the Argus while she was ashore. Received August 6, 10.20 p.m, Sydney, August 6. The Shipwreck Relief Society’s gold medal has been presented to flereward Hewison for saving his brother’s life at Newcastle. Another person (Edward Sadler) has been arrested in connection with the Stewart Dawson, jewel robbery, making the seventh arrest. Two of the missing rings have been found in his possession. It is stated that a confession made by Sadler will clear up the mystery of the robbery. Received August 7, I a.m. Sydney, August 6. • Cabinet had a protracted meeting today discussing the appointments to the ■Legislative Council aud the Royal Commission on coalmining, but nothing definite has been decided. - • Owing *to .the increase in traffic, the Railway Commissioners have decided to again put the men in the railway shops on full time. For a considerable period a large number have been working short time. -