AUSTRALIAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5167, 28 January 1895, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

[Special to Prbbs Association.] : • ANNIVERSARY. '* SYDNEY, Jan. 26. > The weather for the anniversary was wet, though the regatta was a great 1 sucoese. The Intercolonial Eighteen-footer J Sailing Race waa won by the Ariel, of Sydney, defeating Queensland. The latter'a representative, the Bulletin, won , the Champion Twenty-two-footer Race. , THE LABOUR ELECTORAL LEAGUES. SYDNEY, Jan. 28. At the annual conference of the Labour Electoral Leagues it was deoided to add two planks to the platform, viz., compulsory arbitration, and that all public works should be carried out by Government without the intervention of contractors. THE LAND TAX. MELBOURNE, Jan. 27. Speaking at the Australasian Natives' demonstration, the Attorney-General referred to tha rejection of tbe Land tax by the Legislative Council, and said tho people of the colony would not allow the most valuable portion of the wealth of the colony to go untaxed. The Bill, he said, would be reintroduced, ac there must he some change of constitution. VICTORIAN DEFENCES. MELBOURNE, Jan. 28. The Board of Enquiry into the Defence Department has completed its work. It is understood that it recommends reductions to the extent of £20,000 in salaries and allowances. RE-ELEOTED. Mr A. Downward, member for Mornington, who waa unseated on petition, has been re-elected. THE ELECTRIC LIGET. Ballarat iB now lighted by electricity. A HEAVY RAINFALL. BRISBANE, Jan. 27. - Heavy rain has fallen during the/last two days, and eight and a half inches were registered. All the lower portions of Brisbane and suburbs are submerged. The river is in high flood and still rising, and the people are removing goods from the wharves. The rain ceased to-night, but the weather is still threatening. GOLD-MINING. PERTH, Jan. 26. Fine stone has been struck in Bayley's Reward Mine at Coolgardie, while prospecting in the north main shaft. Alluvial gold has also been found in Bayley's Island, it being discovered in a kind of cement under some seven feet of difficult stripping. THE WEST AUSTRALIAN GOLDFIELDS. PERTH, Jan. 28. The main shaft of Menzies' mine is down 120 ft. A reef 3ft wide shows gold in the wall, demonstrating the downward tendency of the reef. The lode maintains its rich character. Nearly two hundred men are working on the alluvial find near Menzies. The results are so satisfactory that many miners are throwing up reefing to go digging. The scene of the recent large alluvial find in the north-west is Turner's Fall. About one hundred men are going there. Gnod gold is being obtained ; three men got 2700z. THE AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE. HOBART, Jan. 28. , The Premiers of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia have arrived far the purpose of holding the conference. General Hutton and Commander Collins will act as military "advisers' h_ -th© conference.