LAST NIGHT'S CABLEGRAMS. AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6167, 24 January 1895, Page 1

LAST NIGHT'S CABLEGRAMS.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

(per united press association. ) Received January 23, at 7 p.m. Melbourne, January 23. The Argus, in its leading article, saj's the continued interruption of telegraphic communication is becoming intolerable. It would be absurd to blame the South Australian Government, but still if we are liable to be isolated in this way by a fracture of the land line, the demand for the laying of the Pacific cable will become irresistible. That cable would cost much more than we are likely to be able to afford for many years to come, but the work will have to be undertaken without delay, cost what it may, unless we can have the assurance of constant communication by the existing routes. The present situation is a reflection on Australian statesmanship. At great expense the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company laid three cables to the northern coast, bub though these were met at landing points by land lines, only one of the latter is serviceable. The question which the Postal Conference will have to carefully consider is what can be done with such unproductive expenditure. Before the Conference enters on the wider aud more speculative region of the Pacific cable proposal, the practical course would be to afford Western Australia assistance for a fixed term, to enable it to bring its lines up to the standard. Adelaide, January 23. Communication on the Port Darwin line was restored at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Received January 23, at 10.15 p.m. Sydney, January 23. Owing to the bad weather in New South Wales only one wire is available to the southern colonies, and as a consequence foreign cable messages delayed by the recent interruption on the Port Darwin land lines can only filter through very slowly. Mr Cook, the Postmaster-General, replying to a deputation from the Seamen's Conference, who urged that the Government should not subsidise mail steamers employing Asiatics, said he would go to the Postal Conference in Hobart with his mind clearly made up to use his best endeavors to try to get white labor only employed on mail steamers. Melbourne, January 23. The Italian ship Savoia, 1308 tons, has just arrived from New York. She caught fire while lying at the wharf, but the brigade was fortunately able to obtain the mastery of the flames before much damage was done. Her cargo consists of 70,0001bs of gasoline, 100,0001bs of kerosene, 250,0001b50f lubricating oil, and 100,000lbs of paraffin wax, and it is marvellous that no explosion occurred, as the cases were burnt off a quantity of kerosene. Received January 24, at I a.m.] Adelaide, January 23. Port Darwin, after the restoration between Oodnadatta and Strangeways Creek, failed almost immediately between William Creek and Oodnadatta, and communication is again completely interrupted. Melbourne, January 23. Replying to a deputation of sawmillers the Minister for Lands said it was the desire of the Government to afford every encouragement to the timber industry, and it was intended to send a trial shipment of paving blocks to America at the Government's expense. Four hundred tons of butter and 40,000 frozen rabbits will be shipped to London next Saturday.