AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1657, 10 January 1895, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Per Electric Telegraph— Copyright. . Per Press Association, TROPICAL QUARRELS. Thursday Island, January 9. A serious fight has taken place between Japanese and Kanakas. A number of the former were severely knocked about. THE WAKATIPTJ. Sydney, January 9. Arrived— Wakatipu, from Wellington. TOBACCO CULTURE. Two enterprising Sydney merchants are entering upon an extensive tobacco venture m Fiji. They start operations this month, and intend giving tobaco culture an exhaustive trial.

THE CABLE QUESTION. The Government have not followed the. example of Victoria m giving notice of the termination of the cable guarantee. The Premier thinks that Victoria is merely providing against contingencies, and has given notice so that if she definitely resolves to withdraw, intimation may have been made within the time provided by the agrement. COAL TRADE WITH CHINA. Some time ago reference was made by the London Times to the fact that Australia now had an opportunity to cany on a coal trade with China. An authority on the subject says :— " If the Times would tell us where we can get steamers or sailing ships to take coal to China, it would be of more consequence than telling us that now is our opportunity. The coal exporters of Australia know quite well when a good opportnnity arises, but they are not m the same fortunate position as the British coaj owners, who have practically unlimited shipping at their disposal. We must take what we can get just as it comes along, and that very often at. a pretty high freight. As a matter of fact duringthe present war only four cargoes of coal have gone forward which would not otherwise have gone with a decent wheat harvest m South Australia, and with the oats and wool season m full awing there is no likelihood of coal ships coming- along. Goal is practically ballast and vessels only take it when they are going to a port where they expect to get something better." A RAILWAY SCANDAL. The enquiry into the free pass system on the railways has resulted m the exposure of the fact that the wives and relatives of members of Parliament not only of this colony, but also of Victoria, had been granted free passes whenever they chose to travel. The issue of such passes is practically a contravention of the. Act. The Daily Telegraph publishes a complete list of ladies who have travelled frefc, c.nd says— "Self-denial m the public interest is not a quality to expect from members of Parliament, but after this exposure we can hardly believe that any member cap have the effrontry to ask the ratepayers to pay for his wife's railway pass." THETALUNE, Sailed— Talune, for Auckland. GENERAL SHIPPING, Adelaide, January 9. Sailed— Callao, for New Zealand. ANOTHER RICH FIND OF GOLD. Perth, January 9. For many weeks past rumours of a valuable discovery of alluvial gold at Coolgardie have been rife. A well known firm here has now received 150azs of gold which is alleged to be one-third of what was obtained by one of the prospector's party. Thetjold is rough and mostly m large bits, one piece weighing lloz. The locality of the find is being kept secret. „ WOOD PAVING. Melbourne, January 9. The American consul has informed the Age that American timbers are not suitable for wood paving, and directs attention to what will probably be a field for a great export industry. The cousul suggests sending representatives witli a sufficient supply of blocks to lay down an experimental section m the main streets. The local authorities woulct probably pay for laying the blocks which it is understood would be admitted duty free. THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS. Some three years ago it was emphatically declared that nothing could be done to produce better results on the Victorian railways ; yet, since retrenchment waß asserted to be an impossibility, the cost of working the railways has been reduced by £630,000 per annum. THE WAIHORA. Sailed— Waihora, for the Bluff.