AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1496, 2 March 1887, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydney, February 24

At a meeting of the Mutual Provident Soolety, held yesterday, resolutions were paned censuring the Directors for granting bonuses ani gratuities to retiring servants. The Chairman said Mr Ralston had retired under an agreement that be was to receive a pension of £1203 a year And the matter was fettled. Mr Ralaton had received m all £1250 as bonuses and Mr Black, Actuary, hal received £2750. Altogether £7350 had been paid m bonuses to officers of the Soolety. The theatrical divorce case, Montague v Montagne, has been decided m favor vi the petitioning wife. At a meeting of the unemployed yesterday it was asserted that 5s a day was the minimum wages at which they would accept workt Perry, the Domain orator, has lost his deposit m the Gloucester oleotion.

Bir Henry Purkes states that the deficit to be wiped off wilt be met not by direct taxation but by Treasury bills.

Melbourne. February 24

A terrible explosion occurred on Wednesday morning at Alabaster's Powder Factory, near Eaglehawk Bay, by which fire lives were lost and a number Injured. The xnoit improved machinery was m use for manufacturing with safety; The faotory baa been giving employment to about a dczen persons, a large proportion of whom were boys. The force of the exploilon w»s felt a long distance. One lad wai pioked up dead fifty or sixty yards •way. It was stated the magozine contained five or Bix tons < f powdtw, and as the fhmea burnt wUh fierceness the t >dies of the unfortunate viotlms wete roasted. !Rjey were burnt and charred beyond rebognition. Nothing has yet been ascer* tawed as to the came. The magazine resitted the fire, and has not been den* trbjred.