AUSTRALIA.

Southland Times, Issue 9164, 12 March 1886, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

♦■ [By Elbotbio Tslegbaph— Copybight/j (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) MELBOURNE, March 11. Communications are passing between the Premier and the Governments of the adjoining colonies with a view to convoking a Conference to meet in Melbourno to discuss the advisability of adopting the schemes put forward by Admiral Tryon for the defence of the colonies. It ia understood, however, that the members of the Victorian Government are generally unfavourable to the plan in question. At a meeting of Presbytery, held last night, after an acrimonious debate, it was resolvad that the Presbytery should not sustain the call of tho Ray. Mr Dods to the pastorship of the Scots Church ia consequence of hia connection with the recent religious pioceedings on the part of. that church. Arrived, this afternoon — Manapouri, from Bluff. Metsrß G-oldsborough and Go. (Limited) issued tLeir annual review of the past wool season to-day. It reports tbe following shipments at tbis date : — Victoria, 287,000 baits ; New South Wales, 300,000 ; and from other colonies, 395,000 ; making the total exported from Australasia 982,000 bales ; an increase on the previous year's shipments of 33,000 hales. Tho exports to the Continent amount to 52,500, and to America 20,000 bales. At tho local wool sales, held in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, 336,500 bales were disposed of, being a decrease of 3400 bales as compared with the previous year. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, reporting on the wheat crop, estimiite.'the gross yield from Australasia at 33,000,000 busbele, of which 6,500,000 bushels are set down as available tor export. The gross requirements of New South Walee, Qjeenslaud, tho other colonies, and the Pacific Islands are given as 70,000,000 bushels. ALBANY, March 11. The Parramatta arrived here tbis morning, with Lodtron maiia to February stb.