Latest Telegrams AUSTRALIAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5163, 23 January 1895, Page 3

Latest Telegrams AUSTRALIAN.

[Special to Pbbbs Association.] ME EDDY BE-ENGAGED. v SYDNEY, Jan. 22. i Mr Eddy, while touring in the country districts, was the recipient of many addresses expressing approval of his management of the Now South Wales railways. He had an interview with the Premier, who preßsed him to remain in the service of the colony, and offered him a seven years' engagement at a salary o? per annum. This offer Mr Eddy has > decided to accept; 1 ' FLOODS. Owing to floods beyond Newcastle, railway communication with Queensland is interrupted. Heavy easterly gales are raging along the coast, and are accompanied by exceptionally heavy rain. It is feared in the Newcastle district that there will be a repetition of the floods of 1893. The northern rivers are rising with alarming rapidity, and boats are being prepared in expectation of heavy floods; Most of the farmß in the West Maitland district are already inundated. A PEOSPEROUS JOURNAL. Mr Alfred Bennett has sold his quarter share in the evening newspaper, to his brothers and sister for between £86,000 and 480,000. ' HIS OPINION. SYDNEY, Jan. 23. The Hon J, Garraid, who has jußt returned from a flying visit to New Zealand, stated in the course of an interview that he was somewhat disappointed with his visit. "The industrial eystem appeared to \ him to work fairly well, and he thought it would continue to do so if the politicians .would only leave it alone. He was sorry to say .a member of the New Zealand Parliament seemed to be more of a labour agent than some of the members of the Australian Parliaments. It would be better also if Ministerial influence was not so marked. To him it. appeared that the effects of advanced legislation had fulfilled the contentions of its promoters, .and equalised the comforta of life more. TEEEIFIC WEATHEE. The steamer Upolu encountered terrific weather, in an attempt to reach Newcastle. A tremendous sea disarranged the water ballast system, and the vessel, was compelled to return to Sydney; ;• A COMPLIMENT. Mr Eddy's acceptance of the position of Chief Commissioner of Railways naß given general satisfaction throughout the coun- .%• / ■ ■ ■ ..■•'■■ STANDARD TIME I ; MELBOtTBNE, JAN. 22. The coming into operation of the standard time system has caused a lot of trouble in rearranging, time-tables, especjh ' ally, with! intercolonial trains,, and; local trains running in connection with them. , ; PAQKING FpRFETTIT, > In the course of an interview with the Minißterof Agriculture amputation pointed out that the recent experiments demonstrated that the very finest packing which could be obtained for apples was shredded ti-tree bark. A quantity of this bark was i imported into the colony recently at a cpßt of £11 per ton; The Minister pointed out that there- was no r necessity to import ; bark from Queensland. Ti-tree grew abundantly in Victoria,.' and if some übrt of machine , which, could shred the bark was obtained, the settlers would have a most grofifcable induaijry. ' i i- < ' THE TOBACCO ROBBERY.'" ~ ( O'Neill, Mulligan, Marks and 'Carrah, charged with being concerned in the great tobacco robbery, have, keen committed for trial. '.--V .'.' ""- r -"■-^-:--— A NATIONAL TRUST. ■■ MELBOURNE, Jan. 23. The promoters of a National Trust in connection, with the meat export trade 'have formulated a scheme which is now being considered by the agricultural and pastoral societies throughput the country. They urge'th'e Government to pass a Bill to enable the.; of the colony to form themselyea into a trust and develop the ~ -meat exj port industry ; that power be given to levy a rate on all stock; that the pum of .£145,000/ will provide ample funds to establish freezing and storage works in Melbourne, belong, Warrgambool, Portland, and any suitable places ia the country district 3— 'ihil ' mohey to >be provided a 8 required by the issue of debentures at 5 per cent interest, guaranteed by the Government. In order to provide interest and repayment" of debentures, a tax of only 2s per 100 sheep upon the thirteen millions in Victoria would be necessary. This tax would bring in a, yearly income of .£13,000, which would provide interest and pay off the principal in fifteen years. A proportionate tax on cattle would probably yield £9000, Which could be used in redeeming the debentures or for the purpose of assisting in opening up markets in various parts of the globe. VICTORIAN AGENT-GENEEAL. The Legislative Assembly, by 45 to 42, rejected the motion to reduce the AgentGeneral's salary to JBIOOO. t THE LAND TAX. So far, the discussion in the Legislative Council on the Income' Tax Bill has been of a hostile nature. FLOOD WATEE ABATING. BRISBANE, Jan. 28. The water has abated in the low-lying parts, and no serious damage is now anticipated; but the weather is still threatening. FRUIT CONFERENCE. ADELAIDE, Jan. 23. The Government has decided to be represented at the Fruit Conference. EICH GOLD DISCOVERY. PEETH, Jan. 23. A rich gold discovery has been made near Hannan. Some of the samples of stone are one-third gold. MURDEE OF NATIVES. Information is to hand that five natives have been murdered by whites at Mount Margaret. The accused men have confessed. MINING IN TASMANIA. . POBAET, Jan. 23. There is much stir in mining circleß owing to the rich nature of the stone struok in the Adjutant claim, Lefroy, on the Volunteer reef. The discovery is likely to develop a number of dividend-paying mines. "

Thb Pbemieb. — The West Coast Times learns that Mrs Seddon and family will remove from Kumara to Wellington in about Bix weeks' time, and will occupy one of the Ministerial residences. The Premier finda that his position renders it absolutely necessary that his home should be in Wellington, and so long as he retains the position his permanent residence will be there.