AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2746, 18 February 1896, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. — Copyright* Sydney, February 17. The Government has taken an important step iu the reduction of the telephone charges. The Postmaster - General has made it in the face of the fact that the departmental officers wished to keep up this excellent source of revenue. In the past the Public Service returns have shown a profit to the amount of .£IO,OOO per annum, or 50 per cent, on the capital invested. From the Ist April the charges will be—Business places, -69 ; private houses, £5 per annum, instead of .£l3 in each case.

The Chief Commissioner of Railways, who has returned from a visit to Bourke, found that the flood waters had cut through the railway embankments there, owing to the fact that they wore riddled with rabbit burrows. The damage to the lino is very heavy. Many bridges are standing alone, the approaches having been swept away. 1 Melbourne, February J 7. The Legislative Assembly disagreed with the Council's amendments in the Federation' Bill with a few exceptions. On the Bill returning to the Upper House, the latter struck out its own amendment imposing .£SO deposits on candidates for the Convention, on the ground that it would raise a Constitution question. The Assembly sent a message suggesting to carry out the Council's intention iu this respect by a Supplementary Bill, which Mr Turner subsequently gave notice of. The "Lords," however, marked their resentment of the action, of the Assembly by withholding consideration of the question for 24 hours. ' The Council decided last week to amend the Factories BUI in the direction of having a Board for each affected trade for the whole colony to fix the hours and rates of pay, such Board to be elected by the employers. The clauses as to employees have been buffeted and battered out. of all semblance to the original conception. ’ The Assembly declines to agree to the Council's alteration in the Railway Bill reinstating the provision for a trust. There is a strong opinion that the BUI was altered in the first instance by the Assembly as to the restriction of the selection of manager to bring about the reinstatement of Mr Speight, and it appears as if a revulsion of feeling in that gentleman's favour is sotting in. It is no secret in certain quarters that Mr Speight is the one man who can reorganise the servioe satisfactorily. From the condition the Bill is now in it is hardly likely to be persevered with this session. Received February 17 , 10.80 p.m. Sydney, February 17. The certificate of Mays, chief officer of the steamer Wollumbin, has been suspended for three months, the Marine Board having found that his default caused the loss of the vessel. The Albury Boiling-down Works have been totally destroyed by fire. The damage is estimated at .£3OOO,