AUSTRALIAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6911, 24 February 1894, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

Press Association— BUotrio Telegraph— Copyright. MELBOURNE, Fbb. 23. Johnston was sentenced to two years' for embezzling five thousand pounds from the Melbourne Permanent Building Society. The Metropolitan Board of Works has decided to issue a local loan of half a million at 4£ per cent. It is expected that the minimum will be slightly below par, and all amounts will be received in pursuanoe of the policy of granting facilities for obtaining cheap money. The Treasury has informed the Savings Bank Commissioners that It concurs in small loans being advanced at five per cent. Mr H. H. Hayter, Government statist, has estimated the population of Victoria at 1,174,000, and that of New South Wales at 1,223,000. Mr Allison Smith has issued a writ for libel against the Age. The amount of damages is not stated. Feb. 24.— Snell, an Adelaide cyclist, rode from Adelaide to Melbourne in 3 days, 5 hours, 42 minutes, thus lowering the record by 18 hours 18£ minutes. Arrangements for lighting the city proper with electricity have been completed, and it is expected that the new system will be brought into operation early next month. The Chairman of the Tariff Board will probably recommend Parliament to amend the tariff in the direction of simplification and relief where it is considered the duties press unduly. SYDNEY, Feb. 23. Sailed : s.s. Hawke's Bay for Auckland, and Hauroto for Wellington. The steamer Fiado had a narrow escape from foundering at the Wharf to-day. The s.s. Adelaide, while coming alongside, drove her anchor into the Fiado below the water line. The vessel began to fill, bat fortunately the anchor entered the ballast tank, which saved her. Fbb. 24.— Mr John Kidd, Postmaster* General, who represents New South Wales at the Postal Conference, was * passenger by the Hauroto, which left yesterday for Wellington direct. The Stockton miners have decided to accept the hewing rate of 3s 2d on the basis of the selling price of 8s per ton, provided that all the men employed in the mine before the strike are reinstated. ' ■ ADELAIDE, Feb. 24. Sailed : Dunoraig for New Zealand. A joint commission of the Methodist body by 19 votes to 4 carried a motion favoring an early organic union of the Methodlsb churches in the colony.