AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1831, 5 August 1895, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Per Electric Telegraph— Copyright.

Per Press Association

MINING ROYALTIES

Melbourne, August 3

The mining companies are making a determined stand against the payment of gold royalties claimed when mining on private lands. A Bill was passed m 1884 and a term of eleven years was fixed m which all existing mining agreements should terminate. This term ended on July 3ist. As a protest against the royalties, and' to test the question, the Madame Berry < West Company stopped work yesterday under legal advice. An official decision by ihe Government has been asked, and is awaited with great interest, the majority of the companies Being m open rebellion against further subsidising the land-

holders m the shape of royalties. A PRISONER COMMITS SUICIDE.

August 4. In connection with the Abrahams' case W. Sewell, who was acting as sheriffs custodian of the property, has been arrested on a charge of stealing from the stock. When the case was called on m court it was announced that he had committed suicide that morning by shooting himself with a revolver.

THE VVAIHORA. Sailed— Waihora, for the Bluff.

EARTHQUAKES

Adelaide, August 3.

Severe earthquake shocks have been felt m several places m the northern districts. Houses and furniture were rocked, and at Bagoth Hill a house was severely damaged. GOVERNORS' SALARIES. Brisbane, August 3. In the Assembly a motion to fix the salary of future Governors was rejected. The Government considered it was an insult, and interfered with a constitutional principle. i THE BURNING MINE. Sydney, August 3. Carbonic acid gas is being introduced at the rate.of seven and a half million cubic feet per day, so far with no appreciable effect, as the smoke is undiminished and the fire is now close to the richest ore supplies of the great Proprietary Mine. If it continues to spread the supply of oxidised ore will be soon cut off, and great inconvenience caused. All the men have been withdrawn since the carbonic gas was used.

At Broken Hill mine the floor of the quarry continues to settle, and there is but little diminution of smoke. The carbonic gas has evidently had little effect yet. A LIBEL CASE. August 4. Messrs Crick and Meagher, members of Parliament, and counsel for the defence m the Dean case, are suing the Premier for £2000 damages, for alleged libel contained m a speech made at Newcastle, referring to their connection ■with the case. ARRIVAL OF THE EXCELSIOR. The barque Excelsior, which left Kaipara on June 15th, has arrived. A PECULIAR AFFAIR.

An explosion occurred early this morning on board the barquentine Prosperity, which was loaded with the Metropolitan Coal Company's coal and lying m Elizabeth Bay. The cook, named Pousty, removed the riding light and carried it into the galley, when a tremendous explosion took place. The deck was torn up from end to end, and the debris and coal scattered over the harbour. Pousty was found unconscieus and seriously injured ; Johu Thomas, a seaman, and Nelson, a boatman, were slightly injured. Two of the crew who were m their bunks m the forward deck-liouse had a miraculous escape. The after portion of the house was blown away, and the men covered with debris, but they escaped without injury. A fire which started among the deck timber was extinguished before it spread to the hull, which remains intact. The explosion was caused by a generation of gas.

The German barque Argo, which was laden with the same quality of coal, was destroyed m a similar manner on July 22nd, 1893.