AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 693, 27 March 1894, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SYDNEY, March 21

Severe cyclone swept o"er Bourke district this morning-. Several houses blown down, and many buildings unroofed.

Premier, in introducing- Appropriation Bill, assured House he would not prolong the life of Parliament more than was necessary, but it would still require couple of months to complete electoral machinery. Reid, leader of Opposition, accepted the Premier’s assurances.

Price Williams, railway expert who was recently in N. Z., is negotiating with Govt of N. S. Wales for construction of light railways, on lines sketched in his recent interview with Evening Post representative.

Good alluvial field discovered near Wellington. Rush has set in. Prospects regarded as excellent. Another discovery of alluvial gold at Clyde Rivers, South Coast district, reported. Stated 4oz to the bucket has been obtained, but this lacks confirmation. ADELAIDE, March 21 Police arrested 26 of unemployed who persisted in camping iu Botanic Park, on charge of illegally living there. MELBOURNE, March 22 Banks have reduced rates of interest to 2,3, ano 4 cent, for 3, 6 and 12 months respectively. Flourmillers have decided to attack freedom of contract, make mills non Union, and only employ free labour. Alfred May, burglar, shot dead by John M‘Kay, at Port Melbourne, while in act of robbing latter's shop. The jury found M‘Kay justified. Great consternation has been created among Trade Unionists and members of Typographical Association by the announcement that 30 composit/ors on Sydney Daily Telegraph have reserved a month’s notice because the directors intend introducing type setting machinery. PERTH (W.A.), March 8 Latest news from Kurnalpi is that Whiteman brought in his gold for past week amounting to over lOOoz. He estimates that gold obtained last week exceeded 2000 oz, he having seen two thirds of this quantity. March 25 A new arrival named Baker found a nugget weighing 140ozs at Kurnalpi. MELBOURNE, March 23 Supreme Court refused application made by defendent in the libel action Allison Smith v. Melbourne Age, to remit trial to County Court, on ground that plaintiff was not in position to pay costs of higher Court. SIDNEY, March 22 For first time in history of Colony, a barrister has been struck off rolls. H. H. Lusk, formerly of N. Z., is the offender. It is alleged he failed to pay over a client’s money received for carrying on suit. An interesting point cropped up in connection with Friendly Society. Registrar, backed up by counsel’s opinion, insists that any outlay incurred on new buildings out of the Society’s reserve fund is at personal risk of trustees. At Agricultural and Pastoral Show, in the Ayreshire section Ferguson, of Otago, obtained several first and second prizes. A number of locally owned cattle from N. Z. strains figured largely in prize list. ADELAIDE, March 24 Pastoralists wish to amend old agreements with Shearers’ Union, by inserting provisions vesting full powers in employer or agent to decide all disputes under rules endorsed upon agreements. They also seek to reduce rates for shearing by 3s in northern districts and 5s and 6s in Port Lincoln district. Shearers executive, at meeting, decided against proposal which will shortly be submitted to executive of Australian Shearers’ Union. SYDNEY, March 25 Postal delegates highly pleased with New Zealand. MELBOURNE, March 26 A very hard winter, and great

dearth of employment is expected in Melbourne.