NEW SOUTH WALES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1764, 11 February 1888, Page 2

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Newcastle, Febraary 10. It is stated here that thirty vessels are on their way from 'Frisco tor this port m ballast tor coal cargoes. Frcghts are exceedingly high, from twenty-four to twenty five shillings being offered for vessels hither. Sydney, February 10, The Hon J. S Farnell, M L.C., intends to introduce a Bill legalising the vie of the totalisator. Plt-uro.pneumonia is prevalent here and infected cattle are said to be coming over the Queensland border daily.

A .serious accident happened to-day at the Oakley Colliery, Lithgow. A "bucket" containing a number of miners was ascending to the mouth of the pit, whe,n by some mishap it struck a timber shaft, and three of the men were thrown out of the " bucket " by the force of the collision and precipitated a distance of forty feet to the bottom of the pit. All had either legs or arms broken, and one man is not expected to recover from his injuries. Fortunately the accident happened when only a short distance of the journey to the mouth of the pit had been accomplished, or those who were thrown from the " bucket " must have been instantaneously killed. The Ffench war vessel Duchauffat sailed «o day for France. The Cen'ennial rifle meeting takes place next week. All the colonies will he represented save New Zealand, and £*400 will be offered m prize money and trophies. Judge Wind- yer, who presided at the trial of the Mount Rennie criminals, and the Minister of Justice are reviewing the evidence given at the trial. This course is adopted m consequence of repeated statements to the effect that the wrong prisoners were convicted and some of them executed* In answer to a deputation to-day regtrding a proposal to establish a direct steam service to the New Hebrides, Sir Hemy Parkes said that the eftbrti - already made m that direction had proved of no avail m consequence of Victoria refusing to join m subsidising such a service. The New South Wales Government, said the Premier, would now consider the question apart from the prospect of obtaining the co-opera-tion of the other colonies.