AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9540, 5 November 1892, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Melbourne, November 3.

The first diridend of 2s 6d in the £ has been declared by the Mercantile Bank of Australia. Two-thirds of the amount go to English depositors.

BANKING CONPIRACY CASES

Sydney, November 4.

In the Australian Banking Co.'s conspiracy cases Judge VVindeyer summed up agaiust the prisoners Francis Abigail (managing director) and Roderick McNamara. The jury acquitted Messrs Salvon and Twist, the accountants of the Company, but found Abigail and McNamara guilty. Abigail protested his innocence, and declared he was not conscious that he had done anything to defraud any man. McNamara also declared his innocence. His Honor, who apparently was much aftectod, said >ie had no doubt the conclusion arrived at by the jury was correct, and he regretted he could not think that Abigail's fraud was a monetary lapse, but was continued over a number of years, though he admitted he had been the dupe of mor-o wicked men. Abigail was sentenced to five years' hard labour. Further charges agaiust accused have yet to be heard.

A man named Makii and his wife have been arrested on suspicion of having caused the death of seven infants, whoso bodies were found buried in a back yard of tboir premises at MacdonaliHown, a suburban municipal district situated between Newto \nand Alexandria, about

two miles south of the metropolis. Warrants were issv.cd for the arrest o? the two daughters of the accused on a charge of participating in the crime, and they were since arrested for complicity in the murder. The bodies have apparently been buried about two month?.

At a meeting at Broken Hill one of the leaders denounced tho appeal of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Wilcannia to declare the strike at nn end, saying His Lordship did not understand the position, and had no business to interfere. Tbe Defence Committee have sat for eight hours, but have not yet decided whether to declare the strike off or not. About 2250 men are employed along the lode. Kidd, Postmaster-General, has not received any cable message from England with reference to the 'Frisco mail contract. He states that the offer of £4000 to tho New Zealand Government was made on the assumption that England would decline to contribute. If the British Government had agreed to renew the contract, he does not think tho New South Wales Parliament would have sanctioned the payment of £4000.

Perth, November 4.

Parliament was opened on Thursday. The Governor's speech referred to the finances of the colony as being in a satisfactory condition. During the session the Constitution Bill would be amended to provide for the extension of franchise, and it was proposed to increase the number of members of the Legislative Council by two, and House of Representatives by three. In order to meet the contingency of an unfavourable loan being placed on market, the Government would ask power to raise money temporarily by means of treasury bills if necessary.