AUSTRALIAN.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2352, 24 October 1889, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Press Association.—Copyright.) (by submarine cable.) MELBOURNE, Yesterday. Rocke’s furniture warehouse in Little Collios-stroet was partially burned out this evening. The damage is extensive, but is covered by insurance. SYDNEY, Yesterday. The Employers’ Union are propounding a scheme for tho establishment of a Board of Conciliation and Arbitration. The special advantage of thia would be tbet two months’ notice of employes goiog out on strike would be required. The owners of the steamers Centennial and Kanahooka, which came into collision in the harbor on the 23rd of Angoit, the result being the sinking of the former vessel, have entered cross action* for damages. The owners of the oollier Kanahooka, which was only partially injured, claim from Mr Ellis the eura of £3500, while Mr Ellis claims £IO,OOO from the owners of the Kanahooka. BRISBANE, Yesterday.

Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, is visiting Brisbane for tbe purpose of consulting the Qjeenslaod Government on important intercolonial matters referring to question* of federal defence, os recommended in tbe report of Major - General Ed varda. Sir Hepry Pikes say a, “We want an Auetmliw Federal Army Act empowering mobilie** tion, and this can only be done by .tbe Imperial Parliament. It ia impoaeible for the Federal Council to create armed force of enormous power, eop* ported by money received from tbe iodividual colonics. The question of a f® 4 *' eral army was practically laying down one strong and immovable plunk of the federal scheme, and a complete platform would necessary follow.” In r ply' o *- Sir Samuel Griffiths, in referring to federation defence scheme, sail “Ad/ workable s home would be acceptable to me. The Federal Council is inadeg a, * # to cope with defence, and it wii u t ' T * r intended that such a question should hj submitted to it. The establishment *

the Council was only a short step in the direction of federation, and the time is now ripe for a more definite advance.” As regarded defence, Sir Samuel Griffiths said that he thought the present a fitting opportunity for steps to be trfcen,~but he felt that no thoroughly complete federation scheme could he carried out except on the basis of a fiscal union of all the colonies.

The steamer Taroba, which went ashor» north of Macksy, arrived here this morn ing, and has been docked. She lias suffered considerable injur}', and 140 feet ol her keel will have to be renewed.