AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1663, 17 January 1895, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

.» Per Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Per Press Association. SUPPOSED LOSS OF A KETCH. Brisbane, January 16. The name board and cabin fittings of the ketch Coomlea have been washed ashore near Gladstone. It is believed that the vessel has been lost with all hands. ' ' MINING SPECULATION. Considerable excitement prevails oil Charters Towers Stock Exchange uwhig to the receipt of heavy orders to purchase scrip of various mines on behalf of London speculators. This mpvement is explained by the recent developments m the mines effected towards the end of last year. These developments

somewhat remarkable, rich stone being struck m the Brilliant and St. George mines. PERSONAL. SirThomaß Mcllwraith has sailed foi England for the benefit of his health. MR HOGAN ON VICTORIA. MbIiBOURNE, January 16. Mr J. F. Hogan, M.P., secretary of the Colonial Party m the British House oi Commons, returns to England via Vancouver by the Warrimoo. He says that after having visited Victoria he considers that the colony is. thoroughly sound and stable. What Bhe is suffering from is bad and inefficient steering through a very severe but after all onlyatemporary storm. The diminution m the popu* lation of the metropolitan area is regarded by Mr Hogan as a blessing m disguise, Melbourne city being too large and overgrown altogether m proportion to the v rest of the colony. He regretted to find party spirit so strong and active m Victoria. In the presence of such a - grave national crisis, he says, it is the duty, of all parties to coalesce, to practically put their shoulders to the wheel, and shovethe State coach out of the bog hole. VICTORIAN POLITICS. In the Legislative Assembly last night the Premier, referring to the recent crisis, said that the Legislative Council had a legal right to act as it had done, but whether it had a constitutional right was another question. Looking at all the circumstances quietly and impartially, he thought that the House could not afford to raise the constitutional question, which could be avoided. The real question to consider was what course was desirable m the interests of the whole colony. The Land and Income Tax Bill m dispute could be sent back to the Council, but m the face of its almost unanimous rejection last week, there was little chance of its' being accepted now. The Government would then have to dissolve the House, which would be penalising the recently returned members. Nor was it certaifi that this step would lead to a final solution of the difficulty. He believed that this course would be injurious to the best interests of the colony and create/turmoil. He believed that the lan^tax was growing m favour^ and its defeat to the pressure of institutions. He hoped that, with the income tax, a reduction of the subsidy to municipal bodies, and retrenchment, to be able to reduce the deficit for the year to £78,000. He moved the introduction of the Income Tax Bill, which was carried to the Committee stage. The Legislative Council have rejected the Alien Bill, which reduces the fees for naturalisation and recognises the naturalisation papers of other colonies. During the debate on the Premier's statement that Sir J. B. Patterson, the ex-Premier, had approved generally of the action of the Government, one labour representative protested strongly against the action of the Government, alleging that the House of Representatives had been insulted by the Legislative Council and that the breakdown by the Turner Government was worse than anything displayed by the late Government. Mr A. Deakin feared that the Government had not realised the seriousness of the position, and said that he regarded the fall m the colony's stocks as due to the rejection of the Land Tax Bill. The action of the Government amounted to almost a sacrifice of principle, and he considered that the Government might have adopted counsel which would have asserted the right of the lower chamber. This would have been better for the Government and the country. AN IMPOSTER. A man travelling under the alias of Count Volasco, has been sentenced to two years on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences. THE FISHERIES OF NEW ZEALAND. Sydney, January 16. Mr Alexander Oliver, president of the Land Appeal Court, sails for New Zealand to-day to make inquiries m connection with the fisheries of that colony on behalf of the Fisheries Commission of New South Wales. THE COAL INDUSTRY. The chairman of directors of the Hetton colliery, writing to the Premier, predicts that with a continuation of low prices Newcastle will be able during the year to reestablish the coal trade with the west coast of America, and m a more moderate degree with the east. H.M.S ORLANDO. H.M.S. Orlando, with Admiral Bridge, will shortly make a visit to the various colonies. She is expected to leave here about a fortnight hence, her route being Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany, Hobart, and then New Zealand. HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTIVES. A gentleman named Hall, recently deceased, after making a few legacies, left the bulk of his estates to establish a consumptive home for respectable poor. ,THE MONOWAI. Sailed — Monowai, for Auckland. THE TASMANIA. Sailed— Tasmania, for Auckland. CANNIBALISM. Perth, January 16. One of the ringleaders m the recent cannibalistic feast gives gruesome details of the affair. He says that one of the natives impaled a boy by running a pointed stick down his throat, and then roasted him.