AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 108, 2 March 1893, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

♦ (TEU PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Mklboirxe, March 1. A farmer named Patterson, living near Shepparton, battered two of his children to death, seriously injured a third, and then attempted to commit suicide. He had been worried by financial troubles. This Day. A deputation from the Royal Agricultural Society waited on the Minister for Agriculture, calling his attention to the danger likely to arise from allowing the importation of stock from New Zealand where the bot fly is prevalent. The Minister replied that he is consulting the other Governments on tbo matter. At a meeting of shareholders of the Real Estate Bank the liquidators announced that they were advised by counsel that there were not grounds for the criminal prosecution of the directors. It was stated the creditors are not likely to receive more than 8s in the £. Sydney, Tins Dny. In the Legislative Assembly the Hon. Thomas Slattery in reply to a question regarding the ravages of the Hession fly in New Zealand crops, said the Government had no power to prohibit the importation of New Zealand produce. A lengthy report on stock breeding in New Zealand has been presented to Parliament and a similar system of crossbreeding recommended here. Peiith, March 1. Terrific gales have been experienced along the Western Australian coast. The barque Alastor is ashore at Freemantle. The tide at Hamlin Pools was the highest on record. The sea invaded the settlement, and twenty-five cutters were driven ashore. Eight disappeared altogether, but fortunately the crews were not on board. Eleven cutter* are missing at Shark's Bay. Hobart, March 1. The Government have decided to de fray the cost of bringing back Featherftono, the defaulting solicitor. His defalcations amount to between £20.000 and £30,000. Brisdvnk, This Day. The drought inland is having a disastrous effect, and there is no sign of rain. Up to the present 15,000 6heep have perished. The Koveuue returns for February show a decrease of .£57,000, as compared with February of last yoar.