AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10597, 18 February 1896, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Spocial-By Telegraph-Copyright. BEEAK-CP OI? THE DROUGHT. Sidney, February 16. Although the long-wished-for rain put fresh life into the hearts of the tillers of the soil and stockowners, yet in some districts it has riot been au unmiiad bleesiDg. The unfortunate selectors one week saw their holdings as bare of grais as, a macadamised road, with their stock peruhirig tor want of food and water, nnci the next saw their selections converted into lagoons, with the animals drowning and themselves being rescued by boats. The Australian climate delights in extremes. At the commencement of the year the producer saw ruin marching slowly on him in a few dsya, Rnd a deluge ended his miseries rapidly. Such occurrences as these are not by any means rare, and it ii a striking commentary on the cry "Why do not the people go on to the land ?" They too often find it is water instead.

THE BRISBANE DISASTER.

The temble disaster at Brisbane sent a thrill of horror through the community. Such au accident comes borne very forcibly to Sydney residents, for nowhere else in the colonies are the ferry services so generally ussd as a means of conveyance as here; yet with its myriads of heavily-laden harbour steamers-Sydney has enjoyed a wonderful immunity from disaster. It will be remembered that in the great flood some time back the Victoria Bridge was partly destroyed and .replaced by a temporary structure pending permanent repairs to the bridge. It was at one end of this makeshift where the tremendous effects of the damming back of the water was felt, and the authorities apprehended jlanger to life, little knowing that their sctiou in closing the bridge would be the yr&ludo to a •terrible calamity. There are stattinsuts current to the effect that the little steamer Pearl •was not possessed of sufficient power to stem the ever-increasing ourrent, hat theto are matters which will ba the subject of a searching. inquiry.' Tho melancholy fact remains that like a vessel of glass she was stove in and sank, bringing sorrow into many homes. DUNEDIN'S NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC - BISHOP. The Bomaa Catholics of New Zealand in general, and of Dunadin in particular, are to be congratulated on the appointment of ffiousignor Vordon to succeed Bishop Moran. His Lordship is now en route to Koine. Beiore his departure lost) week be was presented by the i priesthood with a magnificent gold chalice weighing 200z,, jewelled with emeralds.' The oew bishop is a fine-looking man, of great intel-, lectaality. SIR H. PARSES' LIBRARY. s An advertisement in the daily papers announced the sale of Sir H. Parkes' valuable library of 5000 volumes, as well as the' whole of his personal effects, including many rare articles of historical value. In a letter to the auctioneers' our G.O.M. s&ys: —"The things must bs sold, for I have no other means to satisfy claims against myself or to provide the necessaries of life for those dependent upoa

TELEPHONE CHARGES.

The Government have taken an important etep towards the reduction of the telephone cbaigcQ. Postmaster-general Cook has done so in the'face of the fact that the departmental officers wished to keep up this excellsnt eouccs Df revenue in the past. The returns show that the profit amounts to £10,000 per annum, or 50 per cent, on the capitai^nvesbed. From the Ist of April the charge* will be: Business places £9, private houses £5 per aunum instsad of £12 for both.

UNEMPLOYED CONFERENCE,

Tbe Unemployed Conference, which is still-in session, has shown unwearied exertions during the.' week in wrestling with numberless resolutioEß for the solution of tbe unemployed difficulty, with a special leaning towards Government) assistance towards settling on the land. The conference ' also decided to form an organisation, which, it was carefully stipulated, shall be distinct from all political patties, for enforcing tbe conference's platform. Public meetings are to be held and other methods adopted to raise funds for the support of the scheme. Delegate M'Garr^ moved that the Government should establish' a model village of working men's homes within 30 miles of Sydney, and run trains from the city to unit the residents, build markets and other public buildings. Delegate Griffin'opposed the Government petting and rubbing him down and saying what he should -eat or wear. The President thought that the Bcheme would lead to .pauperism. Delegate M'Garry, in replying, feared the conference becoming conservative. IC the Government did not accept his scheme be would stump the country. THB AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN. Mr TVaine, one of the New South Wales delegates to the Cricket Council, as a protest agaimit the exclusion of the press from a recent' meeting, baa been unburdening hi« soul to an interviewer. He states that the general opinion is strongly against the selected team. All are; agreed that it was a fair team, but that wee &n. There were not more. than a conple of delegates who were satisfied with it, but he argued that by snubbing the Selection' Committee "the council would be slapping- themselves m the face, for, rightly or wrongly, they took the view that the committee for the time bung were part of themselves. The fact was that they did quite know what to do; they, were afraid to start pulling out bricks for fear that the whole' Btruotnre would come down. The, players whose names were sub- . jeefced to the most unfavourable comment were H'Kibbin, Jones, and Trnmble, while Turner bas hosts of friends, and bis name is most frequently mentioned. . Lyons was not mentioned once, while Albert Trott and C. M'Leod were referred to once or twice.