AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 221, 21 March 1896, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

'" MURDER EY BLACKS. SALVATION ABMY APPOINTMENTS. FLOGGING IN THE FIJI ISLANDS THREATENED COAL MINERS' STRIKE. (Per Press Association.) Adelaide, March 20. Father McKillip, of the Jesuit mission informed the Port Darwin police that two Chinese were murdered by blacks at Daly river. The blacks also raided James Pearling's camp, Melville Island, but were beaten off after spearing an attendant through the hand. Sydney, March 20. The Salvation Army has received a cable to the effect that Mr Herbert Booth and his wife, now commanding in Canada, are appointed to command in Australia and New Zealand in succession to Commissioner Coombes, who is appointed to the command in the United Kingdom in succession to Commissioner Howard. Though the ballot returns were kept secret as far as possible, the latest advices are that the Newcastle lodges are voting largely in favour of the strike, and a general stoppage is imminent. Staubury sails for England to-morrow. The race with Harding is fixed for July 13th. Sir John Thurston says there is some misconception in regard to Mr Chamber lain's reply to the Honse of Commons on the subject of flogging in the Fiji, Sir John says no such practice as flogging exists in Fiji, but during his absence an officer ordered certain natives to be flogged, an altogether illegal, reprehen sible, and unprecedented thing. The officer was removed by Government tc another district on reduced salary. Brisbane, March 20. The Banks have reduced deposit rates to three per cent, for 12 months and 1^ for six months. Melbourne, March 20. The Chief Justice, in granting the ap> plication for the examination of the late auditor and general manager of the Citj of Melbourne Bank, made an offer foi the examinations to be held in public at the discretion of the Examining Commissioner. Perth, March 20. By the flooding of a shaft at New Chum mine, Mount Magnet, three men, Campbell, Cook, and Daniels wen drowned. Owing to heavy rains th« water came down the gully like a wav< and entered the shaft without any warn ing.