AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 221, 24 January 1894, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

COMMERCIAL BANKING COMPANY THE DORA DORA MURDER. INTENSE HEAT IN AUSTRALIA. A DROUGHT PREDICTED. i STRIKE OF WHARF LABOURERS. < THE BOT FLY IN VICTORIA. A BANK ABSCONDER. | Per Press Association. | Svdnky, This D-iy At the close of the year the population of the colony was esti mated at 1,223,000, an increase of 25,000. This is the smallest increase since the year 1876. The Labor members' conference discussed the federation question, but disposed of the subject by carrying a bold resolution that no scheme is acceptable without one man one vote. Very boisterous weather has been experienced along the Queensland coast, and the northern coasts of this colony. January 23. Fears of drought are entertained in Botirke. Whirlwinds, winch are regarded as the forerunners of the visitation, have been very frequent lately. At the half-yearly meeting of the Commercial Banking Company, the balancesheet showed profits amounting to .£67,---000. A dividend at the rate of 10 per cent per annum was declared, and .£lO,---000 added to the reserve fund, £22,000 being carried forward. Willie, an aborigiual arrested in connection with the Dora Doi-a murders, admits being at the place at the time of the murders, but accused his mate Jackie of nnmlering a settler, and also of the murder of a woman at Benalla. Adelaide. Jtinuary23 Great heat prevails in S Australia, the thermometer ranging from 103 degrees to 115 degrees id the shade iMklB'H rnb, January 23. Intense h<?at is felt throughout the country. Four thousand acres of grass have been burnt at Coleriuna, and nearly 10,000 acres at East Hopetoun. The crops so far have psenp^d. A difficulty has arisen between the Wharf Labourers' Union and William Howard Smith and Sons 1 (Limited) shipping company. The company notified the men of its intention to reduce the rates for unloading coal to Is per hour all round during the day, and Is 6d at night. When the steamer Age arrived yesterday there were no wharf labourers on hand to unload the vessel, but nonunion men were soon secured, and the work was proceeded with. This Day. The bot fly has made its appearance in the Warragal and Siubury districts. A large number of horses are affected by the pest. The police authorities have received information from Buckley, Washington, U.S.A., respecting a bank absconder named Hart, who is charged with embezzling £6.000. The United States Government offer a reward of .£2OO for information that will lead to his arrest. He is supposed to have come to Australia. Bbisbane. This Day At the half-yearly meeting of the Royal Bank of Queensland, 1*2,000 were placed to the reserve fund, and iSOOO carried forward, but it was decided not to delare any dividend. Twelve co-operative, settlements have been formed with a total membership of 506.