AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4296, 4 March 1901, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

The removal of the old fire station. Church street, Parramatta, led to. tlv lifting of the old foundation-stone, and the state of tho contents is a les-on to those who are depositing documents, etc., in similar places. The coins ami tokens are, cf course, all right, but the newspapers are so ruined by the damp as to bo almost unreadable. Among them is a ’Sydney Morning Herald” of July 3. 1860, and a Parramatta “Chron-

icle’’ of June 23 of the .same year, the latter announcing itself as printed and published at Church street, Parramatta, by D. Hunt. The damp managed to get into the hollow under the stone, and til is in the case of a most substantially built wall. Among the coins are some of George 111., George ti ~ and Victoria, and several copper coins, such as wore once freely in usd in the colonies, including one of the niueb-aavertised Professor Holloway.

Every day brings fresh news regarding tho movements of troopships hastening to Sydney under engagement to transport the contingents to Soutn Africa-. On Wednesday the Custodian, a 9000-tou transport, was due at Sydney, and on Thursday a telegram advised the arrival of the Ranee at Albany from tlm Capa. On the 22nd the troopship Antillian sailed from Albany for Sydney. The troopship Teimplcmore, which is to take the Queensland Contingent to the Cape, came out of Sutherland Dock 011 the 22nd, after undergoing an overhaul, prior to her departure for Brisbane. During the coming visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, mourning will, of course, says an exchange, bo worn by all ladies attending public functions—indeed, it will bode rigucur for everyone—so a description of a social function will simply bo ;< study in black.

At the Melbourne Supreme Court on 22ml February, the Chief Justice commenced the’hearing of an action brought by Constance Palmer, described as a domestic servant, against William Ford, miner ami investor, residing at Mordialloc, to recover £IOOO damages for alleged slander. The plaintiff complained that the defendant had published words imputing niychasiity to her. The defeinco was that the words used were true in substance and in fact. Some extraordinary evidence was given by Ford, who alleged that lie had misconducted himself with plaintiff, who. was formerly housemaid at an hotel in me city. Under cross-examination by Mr Purves, tho defendant made out that he was only ,1 countryman, and the Chief Justice remarked that for a countryman he seemed to know his way about the city very well. (Laughter.) The case was not concluded when the Court adjourned. Up to thd present 8000 men have been granted old age pensions in Victoria. One pensioner is a man of twenty-one years of age, a native of Victoria, who was permanently disabled through a mine accident. The Act provides that a person following a mining occupation, and who has been twenty-one years in the colony, if injured so as to be unable to earn his living, may ue granted a pennon.

Seven Imperial soldiers, who absented themselves without leave from the Britannic while in Melbourne, were brought oefore the Port Adelaide Police Court jn 22nd February. The men had given themselves up to the Victorian military authorities, who passed them on to the Adelaide Court. They were remanded, ai order that they may be handed over co the officers in command on the Britannic. The men were to oe detained in Adelaide Gaol tali tlie Britannic’s arrival. The Commissioner for Crown Lands of South Australia has provided Professor Spencer and Mr E. J. Gillen with a team of four fine horses and an express waggon for their trip into the far interior, co continue their investigations into the customs of the wild natives. The express waggon is one which was used by Surveyor Great in his trip to tiie Northern Territory, and which was previously used by Lord Kintore when he made nis transcontinental journey. Messrs Spencer and Gillen leave Adelaide on March 1.

Ebb Smith, Inspector under the Central Rabbit Board, in a recent report on a tour of inspection, round the southwestern portion qf the Maranoa (Queensland) district, states: “I would have liked to have got over more country during my trip, but the state of the country on the back creeks is beyond words. There is not a sign of feed, and £ can only carry a limited quantity. The large stations have only two or three horses left, and tl»ey are being fed, and what few stock are left just kept alive on fallen scrub. >Later is scarce, and very bad in places. The whole country is a dust-heap, which constant winds raise in clouds, agoing to the discomfort of the excessive heat. I had much difficulty in .getting my horses tack to St. George. The heat of late has been intense—ll6deg and 118 deg in the shade—and only duststorms follow. This is February, and the near outlook is most dismal.” '