AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1658, 11 January 1895, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Per Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Per Press Association. GOOD RIFLE SHOOTING. Melbourne, January 10. The Geelong Eifle Meeting was sharacterised by the magnificent shooting of Major Umphelby, who lowered the world's record at 300, 500,-and 600 yards by scoring 101 out of ■ a possible 105 points. A MAN BLOWN TO ATOMS. A shocking explosion occurred m a mine at Bendigo, by which a miner named Franklyn was blown to atoms. Remnants of his body were brought to the surface m a bag and his brains m a candle box. VICTORIAN POLITICS. The Premier freely expressed his intention to resign, as the. Labour party had made the Government position intolerable. The Governor has returned to town, and the Government will communicate their decision to him to-day. Suggestive hints are thrown out that if the Government will renounce the Labour party and abandon the land tax they will receive fair support from a portion of the Opposition corner. The Government have decided hot to resign. In the Legislative Assembly the Premier explained that, after fully considering what had happened, and believing it to be the result of a misunderstanding by some members without intention or combination to defeat the Government, and that a change of ministry would be disastrous at the present time, he had decided to proceed with business. Mr Turner added that had he consulted his personal feelings only, he would have resigned. CHEAP RAILWAYS. The Standing Committee on Railways has collected some very valuable information on the subject of narrow-gauge railways m India, France and Germany, and interesting details have been furnished by the British East Africa Company anent the construction of their narrow-gauge line from the coast to Mashonaland. A strong case is made out m favour of the introduction of the system into this colony. A SMART ROGUE. A clever swindler, passing under the alias of Count de Volasco, victimised a number of tradespeople before being run to earth. His method was to pay into an account his own cheque drawn on Broken Hill, then, with the deposit slip as a guarantee, he bought goods and issued a number of cheques. Accused has been mixed up with some ingenious frauds m Tasmania and here. THE AUXILIARY SQUADRON. Admiral Cyprian Bridge, m the course of an interview, touched upon the subject of the latest theories m gunnery, and said a great revolution had come about against the use of very heavy guns on board ships. Nothing had happened m the Chinese-Japanese war for which they were not quite prepared, except perhaps' the ease with which many ships took fire. No doubt, he said, a few ships may blow up or be burnt, but there is no reason to anticipate the totai destruction which has been prophesied. The Australian auxiliary squadron, which would assist to safeguard the Australian seaborne commerce m time of war, was a cheap insurance, for Australia contributed only about £136,000 per annum, whereas, judging by the Blue Books, the Chilian, Brazilian, Argentine or Greek navies, which were not much larger, cost £1,000,000 per annum. If Australia severed her connection with Great Britain m or,der to avoid consequences when Great Britain was at war, her position would -not be improved, for m war time the provisions of international maritime law were practically a dead letter, and cargo from neutral Australia would not be respected by foreign countries, whether it be declared contraband of war or not. The Australasian colonies under any set of circumstances depend for their wealth entirely upon the unobstructed transport of goods by sea, and therefore they were closely interested m the maintenance of an efficient fleet m their waters, TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. A shocking accident occurred on the railway line at Jolimont. Two gangers who were engaged m repairing the line were struck by a passing train. One (Smith) had his head cut off and his body hurled many yards away ; the other (O'Halloran) was mangled beyond recognition. MAIL VIA VANCOUVER. Sydney, January 10. The.postal authorities have received a communication from the New Zealand Government with regard to tha6 colony joining the Vancouver mail service. It is proposed that another boat should be added to enable the establishment of a monthly service alternating with the San Francisco service, and calling at Auckland. The Postmaster-General of New South Wales has no objection to the proposal, provided it involves no increased outlay to New South Wales. The Vancouver Company is willing to put on another boat. It is understood that the New Zealand Government offer a substantial Bubsidy. FRANCE AND GERMANY IN THE PACIFIC. Speaking at a farewell banquet, Ad. miral Bowden-Smith took the opportunity of stating publicly that during the period of his command relations with France m cany ing out the pre» visions of the New Hebrides agreement

had always been most cordial an satisfactory, and m connection with th Samoan Group, where more trouble ha< occurred, the German naval officers aiv his own had always acted togethe cordially. GUARANTEED CABLE SERVICE. The Postmaster-General considers tha the Press cable from London under dat of 7th instant, with regard to Victoria' action m giving notice to withdraw fror the cable guarantee, is misleading. H points out that the expectation at fira held, that there would be no loss uude the ' cable guarantee, has not bee] realised. In the first year New Soutl Wales had to pay £15,000, and m 189 they paid £13,000, but owing toincrease< traffic arising out of the bank recon structions the deficiency last year fell t( £3000. This year however there ar< indications that traffic will drop to it* original figure, and it is estimated thai for 1895 the colony will have to paj £10,000. The Postmaster-General says that m this cable guarantee business, although the New South Wales Government have not definitely determined tc withdraw, yet he sympathises very much with the Victorian Government m the action taken by them. CABLEGRAMS. Adelaide, January 10. During the year the total of cablegrams forwarded from all sources was 44,989, and the number received 44,892. The total value amounted to £304,000. NEW APPOINTMENTS. Judge Bundy has been appointed president of the State Board of Conciliation under the s Act which was passed last session. A new Portfolio m the Ministry is created, the Attorney-General being made Minister of Industry. PERSONAL. Brisbane, January 10. Sir Thomas Mcllwraith, although his health ie improving, will shortly visit England to obtain an additional benefit, and has resigned his position on the Federal Council. The Hon. H. M. Nelson will succeed him. THE ARCADIA. Albany, January 10. Arrived — Arcadia, from London, yeslerday. Passengers— Mesdames Mainwaring and Nicholl, Misses Carey, Langhton, and Mainwaring, Messrs Stafford, Noble, Russel, Hutchison, Rollan, Nicholl (2), and Abrahams and family.