AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2211, 16 July 1896, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Sydney, July 12. y 3Ph.e Treasurer's Budget Statement was well received, even the Opposition being forced to admit its merit if the figures are substantiated, following close, upon the Statement came (be good tidings of the Premier's tuoceas in another direction, In bringing the colliery dispute to* termination. It is estimated that the strike lias cost Newcastle between £10,000 and £15,000 weekly in the matter of expenditure, 'and amongst lcwl tradesmen there is general rejoicing at the turn of affairs^ The strike, howevef, has produced the inevitable result of such methods of settling disputes— an increase 6f bitterness between man and man and deplorable suffering among helpless women and children. The first feeling was exemplified in the, speeches made by several miners when discussing the masters' terms prior to the conference with the Premier this week. One speaker stated that the proprietors were evidently determined to give the miners » severe flogging now they had thorn as though tinder the whip. They might succeed, for stomachs and backs can - never hope to win against heavy purses. There was suffering and hunger in the district, but 'miners mußt bo prepared to suffer still mere rather than go back at 2s lOd, and, worte still, liader rules that would mean tbe'deutructfonof the union. He strongly urged his hearers to stand firmly against the ultimatum of I 'the proprietors^ and concluded with the' remark that there would " have to be some blood-letting before the miners got their rights." Another member said he endorsed to a large extent, the views of the previous speaker, butj the thjao was coming, when, he would have to get work to keep his wife and 11 children from etarving. He now wished to tell the lodge straight that he could remain on strike no longer. If the proprietor; were determined to insist .on .reductions he must procure food for his .children. Unless he mUtook the temper of the miners, the majority would fight on two months yet before accepting the reduced wages. The avenge politician in Ntw South Wales spends his time mainly thinking out quektions on which be c&n move the adjournment of the House to discuss hid latest fad. As a rule the most inopportune time is chosen. In this case it was Mr Watkins who sought to get the Government to immediately introduce a bill to provide for compulsory arbitration, and this «t a time, when the Premier was anxiously awaiting the outcome of his efforts to briog the Newcastle strike to a conclusion; Minister G&rrard regretted the question had been raised at tuoh a delicate time. To introduce such a bill might be regarded as a threat, but he hoped before the close of the session to give the House a chance of considering the question. If, however, the awful struggle at Newcastle contiuued, then it seemed t3 him, despite whatever side might say, that the State undoubtedly would have to step in and put an end to ih. Mr Lyne Came, forward, *s : a supporter of compulsory arbitration. Mr Reid hoped to c&im Mr Lyne'sx-asßistacce laterXon, but it was unwise to press for such' relief at present. Tlie retrenchment in the' public set vioo led one. member. of the Assembly who' does not rely on his .position as legislator- for bread and butter to give,.noiice to reduce .the honorarium of members from £500 to '££50, and vindicates lii* aofciou by pointing to. the depression exi&ting in the colony. , The heaits of Labour membsis were gladdened by the announcement that the .Government in thair electoral reform prop-se to take pity on seamen and other nomadic individuals in the matter ol ' giving them the franchise, while as a couaterblast to so much joy, the money-lender is to hive his practice of extorting hiflh interest nipped by, the Usury Limitation B.H. This, however, will get no •further tban the first reading ..this session, the order for the second reading having been fixed for October 13. -The iheep sales demonstrated that so desire exists in this colony for Romney or Le'csster breeds. la longwools buyers look at nothing except Lincolns. Those few who desire animals of other varieties would go to breeders direct, a course certainly more profitable to the latter than- sending fine sheep to be sacrificed at auction.

The unusual phenomenon was observed here and .in other parts of the couutry of a brilliant meteor in broad daylight. It was first noticed as a star of the first magnitude, and afterwards Increased in brilliancy and splendour. The train was a brilliant rose colour, and - tbo meteor a beautiful blueifh-white. The time it was on view Was fivo seconds.

Mr Neild, member for Paddirgbon, whi is beet remembered by a niae-houra' s'oaewall apetch some years ago, recently, without warning, sought a bubble reputation as a pact. The press took' his poems humorously, which searched the orator's soul, acd in a "leolure entitled "Literary Assassination ". hja hurled euch flowers of 'invective as " ignoramuses, " -"abject iee tpable/j," "literary profligates," "glatidermorg^r?," " vipers" who wrote" false-" hoods for bread," ",hired buffoons," " hedgerow murderers of intellect 'and perpetators of fraud," and a " reptile press.'.' 1 Melbourne, July 12. The determination to suppress lotteries is a severe blow fcr the eight-hour demonstration and kindred institutions. Mr Hancock, lAbour member, has introduced a measure securing the legality of art unions, but the Assembly would have none of it, rejecting the second reading by 34 votes to 15. The Chief. Secretary condemned the measure, which would .only tend to stimulate the spirit of gambling. - The cry agr-intt the Queensland tick pest has spread to this colony. v The Government were not slow in taking steps to prevent its possible spread amongst Victorian herds. Tanner* seeing trouble ahead deputationissd the Minister for Agrioulture in abrong force, and asked him not to tako the extreme course of prohibiting the. importation of, Queensland hides. ' They urged that tbe precautionary measures adopted in Queenland precluded all chance of live ticks remMoing in the hides. The Minister informed the deputation that an Order in Council had already been pstse'd prohibiting importation, unless accompanied by an official certificate that the bides were properly salted. The Premier has also taken steps to convene an intercolonial conference to consider what should be done to prevent the spread of the pest. At the marine inquiry to deal with the certificates of Captain Tindall, of the Birksgate, and Captain Simpson; of tbe Rockbon, in connection with the receDb grounding of these steamers, Captain Tindall's defence was th%t ho had been on duty the whole of the previous dny and night. He went to sleep on the bridge, bub before doing so told the seoond mate, who was on 4uby, to call him when the ve3f el approached Pile light, running up the weeb channel of Port jPhillip. When awakened he ported the helm, but fcoo late to' save the grounding. The 1 econd 'w»te (Denary) gave evidence that Tindall was feober when the steamer was going down the bay, jbut not responsible for his aotions. A« they sppro&clied Pile light owing to conflicts orders

the steamer grounded. He alleged that Tindall tried to gob him to take the blame of the mishap, and almost prayed to him on his knees to do 00. He asked him to make a statement to the Marine Board taking the responsibility. CapTindall utterly denied Denery'a statements. The court, however, found that Tindill was drunk at the time of the grounding, whioh was caused through giving conflicting orders to the men on the bridge, and adjudged him guilty of gross misconduct and suspended his certificate for 12 months. Simpson was guilty of misconduct, and his exemption certificate, so far as ife applied to the port of Geelong, was suspended for one month. Each captain was ordered to pay eight guineas costs.Adelaide, July 12,

A largely-signed petition asking for an amendment of the Licensed Victuallers Act so as to allow of the opening of publichouses duting certain hours on Sundays has been presented to the Assembly, bub will doubtless go to swell the majority of such convenientlyforgottea documents. Mr Butler moved the Assembly to reduce the numbar of members of both Houses by onethird, making the number of Commoners 36 and of Councillors 16. He said this meant an annual saving of £10,000 to the country. Tho I debata has been adjourned. j The Eoglish trade delegates are having a busy time of it between business and banqueting. They inspected numerous butter factories, export establishment*, and other places of interest in the city. Oa the country trip village settlements w.ere included in the programme, addressings' a meeting at Gumeraeha on the benefits of 00-operation. Dc Cockburn,in seconding a- vote of thanks to tho delegates, said ha had before welcomed men of eminence and rank, but such men were more representatives of a pasfc generation, while the delegates, working men as they were, were apostles of the coming age. Mr Stoker, a delf gate, replying, said they had met nobhing bub kindness since they otme to Adelaide. Trade eooletiei met them, and the P.erniei 1 and Dr Cookburn treated them splendidly. •• Just iacoy," added Mr Stoker, "your Premier coming and sitting between two of us working men and chatting with u»." This broughb exclamations from the audience. "Why, he ia only «Clnrlie,' »nd why shouldn't he! He is a Democrat." Thereupon Mr Stoker explained that the conventionalism of scciety was still very strong in England, and tho British Premier never dreamed of doing such a thing. He added that; he had been muoh interested in the grand city of Adelaide, with its wide, cleau street?, freedom from slums, and wretched looking men, women, and children. Brisbane, July 12. The attention of Parliament has been occupied chiefly by the Fcdorabion 8 11. Tho only oppo-ifcion to the metwuce is on the question of the election of delegates. The second reading was carried by 40 to 25.