AUSTRALIA.

Southland Times, Issue 11297, 1 November 1889, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

[United Pbess Association —By SledTBIO TaidtGßAi'H. — UOPfBIUfiT.J SYDNEY, Oct. 31. Received 31st, 7 p.m. The teller in the Bank ot New Zealand here has disappeared and an investigation bae revealed the fact that he has embezzled L 13,454 of the Back's money, as the result of speculating in mining stocks. Tbe Bauk has succeeded in recovery scrip from the defaulter's broker reprebenting between seven and eight thousand pounds, and expects to get more. At present there ia no trace of the absconder. Received Ist, 1 a.m. Sir Henry Parkas in a despatch to the Premier of Victoria says that he believes tbe time is ripe for tbe consolidation of the colonies of Australia, and that New Sonth Wales invites the colonies to take the first great step in that direction, namely, to hold a national convention for tbe purpose of devising and reporting on an adequate scheme of federal government. In order to avoid any sense of inequality be suggests that each colony should send tbe same number of delegates equally chosen from both sides of political life ; the delegates to be elected by their respective Parlia menta and commissione-d by their Gover-nors.in-Council. He BUggesta four members from the lower house and two from the upper. If New Zealand joins the Convention it would consist of 40 mem bers. Federation, it ia assumed, woald necessarily follow the lices adopted in Canada, and wonld provide for a Gover-nor-General and an Australian Privy Council, Senate, and House of Commons. THURSDAY ISLAND, Oct. 31. Received 31st, 7 p.m. The reported massacre of the missionaries and crew of the mission vessel Mary is generally discredited. The same tribe caused s similar scare some time back. MELBOURNE, Oct. 31. Received 31st, 7 p.m. The Patents Bill has been passed. It mak^'B substantial reductions in the fees payable for patents, viz: L 3 for 3 years, L 5 10s for 7 yefcrs and L 8 14?3 for 14 years. The Attorney-G-eneral hopes that tbe Federal Council will take steps to assimilate patent charges throughout Australaia. During the debate surprise was expressed that no reference was made by the Government to their infringement of Pond's (Auckland) patent butter package rights and a desire was manifest that for the honour of the colony reparation should be made to tbe patentee. Received 31st, 9.45 p.m. Following are the lips published in tbe loading papers : —Derby— " Augur " tips Dreadnought, Richelieu, Dunkeld, or Carrington ; "Asmodeus" stands by Dreadnoaght, Richelieu, Rudolph or Dunkeld ; "Vigilant" favours Dreadnought, Dunkeld, or Richelieu ; " Mine "—Loyal Stone, Dreadnought, or Bicheliea. For the Gap— « Atjgur " tips Meloa or Loaadaie, Bravo,

Carbioe, or Singapore ; " Aamodens — Chicago, AntEeus, Lonadale, or Benzon ; ••Vigilant"— Carbine, Antaeus or Melos ; " Mine "—Antaeus, Chicago, or Carbine. At Oaulfield this morning, Benzon, having all the best of the weights, beat Dunkeld over a mile and half In 2 mm. 46 sees. ■*■;■ •'.■;■■ 'Received Ist, 1 a.m.. ; = At the fourth wool salea of the i season, held to-day, there was animated competition and a large attendance of buyers, The N.ZL?and M.A. Co; catalogued s333 bales and sold 4762. Following were the best rates ruling— Greasy merino, 13£ d ; greaey combing, 14d ; greasy crossbred, 13£ d ; j greasy lambi, 13^ i Z T6 * B y P seceß » 1! * d ' scoured merino, 20£ d ; scoured pieces, 18fd. Received Ist, 1.20 a.m. Lateet betting— 7so to 100 Antajtiß, 900 to 100 Melos (taken) Antaeus is favourite at ,7 to. 1 ; Carbine and Melos Bto 1. After 3000 being taken about Benzon at tensheadvanced to eights, but again receded to tens. Cardigan is also easier at 100 to 8.