AUSTRALIAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5337, 15 August 1895, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN .

[Special to Press Association.] I NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT. SYDNEY, Augtjqt 14. Parliament was officially opened to-day. The speech from the Throne promised the early introduction of a Legislative Council Eaform Bill, alao that a Bill dealing with federation on the lines of the Hobart Conference will be submitted this session. The speech otherwise dealt with the pro* , gramme of the Government where it was left off before the dissolution. j MURDER BY NATIVES. ' A Japanese trader, agent for a German , firm, has been murdered in Naw Ireland by j natives. They attacked hia hut at night I and killed him with a tomahawk. The German Commissioner had seven natives who. were implicated seized. Six were Bhot and the seventh was hanged. THE BURNING MINE. SYDNEY, August 18. The steam has been turned off in Block 11, and gas ie being relied upon to Bup- j press the remainder of the fire. A small j amount of vapour is still rising. Blocking : the outlets is being continued as a precau- ; tion, but it is considered that all danger } is over. CARRIAGE OF PRODUCE. MELBOURNE, August 14< The London tenders for the carriage j of produce by private companies provide for a weekly service, with a substantial reduction in the rate of freight. The Premier eayß that he is convinced that sufficient tonnage will be placed privately at the disposal of the Government. FEDERATION AND TAXATION. Sir Frederick Sargood, interviewed, said that interest in federation waa steadily growing in Victoria. There waa strong objection. by the people in the colony to the income tax, owing to its inquisitorial character, and the large amount of laboar involved by those not able to make out balanco-sbeete. In many cases it was impossible to arrive at an estimate of income. He preferred a wealth or surplus tax, similar to that which had existed in New Zealand, which would be far leas cumbersome and burdensome. The marked determination of Victoria at the present, he said, was in favour of lower duties, and there were wonderful advances towards freetrade. AN INSURANCE CASE. An important insurance case has been before the Supreme Court. An insurer sued the new Oriental Banking Corporation for a return of a life policy for JBIOOO effected for the benefit of his wife and children. He claimed £300 damages for detention of the policy, which matured in 1893, and had been deposited with the bank in 1889, as plaintiff alleged, for safe keeping. The defendant corporation refused to surrender the policy on the grounds that the plaintiff was largely indebted to the bank, and that it had been placed with them aa security. Mr Justice Hodges, in giving a verdict for the plaintiff, said that under the Married Woman's Property Act a policy effected for the benefit of a wife and children created a trust, and formed no part of the estate or debts. IMPORTED COAL. MELBOURNE, August 15. In the Assembly, the proposal for imposing a dnty of half-a-crown per ton on imported coal waa rejected by a large majority. THE TOTAT.TSATOR. . ; Mr Murray moved the second reading of ; the Tofftlisator Bill, which he strongly ; nrged would put down the evils surrounding racing. Sir J. Patterson warmly de- | nounced recognition by the State of vice in any form, and the Bill wbb rejected by a large majority. .IRISH SYMPATHISERS. BRISBANE, August 15. [ The Attorney - General, on behalf of sympathisers with the Irish cause, pre- \ sented Mr Davitt with a cheque for £350, '