AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 222, 31 October 1894, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Press Association)

Deceived 1 a.m. Sydney, October 30. ILM.S. Wallaroo broke her high pressure cylinder. .. . .

Some sensation is caused in political circles through Major-General Hutton’s report, which, it is supposed, was suppressed by Sir G. It. Dibbs, ex-Premier, from being placed on the table of the House. The report is couched in most out'pftken terras. The artillery forees, it is alleged, are in a most unsatisfactory

condition, and they will never be placed in a state of efficiency till an experienced artillery officer is placed at the head. He states tho present senior officers, from antecedents, previous training, technical knowledge and age cannot be expected to equal modern requirements. In his report the Major-General alleges that the permanent force is insufficient to man the batteries in Sydney and Botany Bay, and recommends tho federation of the colonial artillery.

Melbourne, October 30. Parliament was opened by the Governor to day. The speech from the throne said the object of the session was to place the finances of the Colony on a sounder basis and tho strictest economy would bo exercised. It was proposed to impose income and land absentee taxes. Tho tariff | question would bo specially dealt with next March. Every endeavour would bo made to bring about the Federation of the Colonies and power would bo sought to facilitate that object. Steps were to be taken to place the trust funds in central non political boards. The condition of the railway management and rolling stock was to b« investigated. The scheme for State banks was mentioned as the subject of a Royal Commission. Brisbane, October 31. j | of kidnapping during the recent cruise of the William Manson, a labor vessel from i Bundaberg. A missionary alleges that h lent thre< Malataya I I ind< rs wi were Christianised to Malataya to pave the way fora white missionary and that i the captain after consulting with the chief ! * ilieer*refused to allow thorn to land, and roii-ht them back to Australia, also that ! iln. chief officer ordered six women to . n , ard but th< v< r< after- ; wards • flowed to land. John W.ll.aul, a member of the New I ii Wales Parliament, who is visiting I it. iv for the purpose of collecting ovideuco I to prove the validity of his election lias been arrested at the instance of tho PostmaMlorGenoral on a charge of larceny from tho I Received 11.45 a.m. Sydney, This Day. Arrived Gleamer for Mercury Bay. In his report, Major-General Mutton t commends the colonies in concert to adopt ;.h< newest and best designation of magariile. Thirteen shearers charged with riot in the Walgett district wore sentenced to terras of imprisonment varying from t*n | months to thirteen months. Tho Premier, acting on tlio report of the

Military Conference, will probably summon a meeting of the representatives of the various Governments to consider the proposal to establish a federal artillery to be under the command of Imperial officers. It is thought officers could be taken from various regiments in Australia and sent to England and India for training. The Admiral of the Australian Station has received a cable message stating that H.M.S. Crescent, which was intercepted at Colombo on her way to Australia with relief crews, has arrived at Chefoo and is now engaged in assisting to protect the British subjects at the Chinese treaty ports. The Wairarapa has a month’s supply on board exclusive of reserve stores. The Manapouri which leaves this evening will be instructed to keep a sharp look out. Received 2.30 p.m. Sydney, This Day. A disastrous collision occurred here this morning just outside the lledfern Railway Station, when an incoming Parramatta train, crowded with people from the suburban station met the outgoing Goulbourno express on the same set of rails, with the result that the express and carriages telescoped. The accident caused intense excitement, and it is impossible to ascertain definitely whether anyone is killed, but it is believed one fireman on one of the trains is dead. It is not known how the two trains switched on to the sain© line. A great many are badly injured.