LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2609, 16 January 1885, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[REUTERS TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. - ERSKINE A FIRST-CLASS COMMODORE. DEPARTURE OF BOOTH FOR AUCKLAND. VICTORIAN AND TASMANIAN CUSTOMS TARIFF. ARRIVAL OF THE lONIC AT HOBARTON. CONFERENCE OF PREMIERS. THE NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS. (Received January 15, 10 p.m.) Sydney, January 15. Sailed, this afternoon, the Ringarooma, for Auckland ; and, this evening, the Hauroto, for Wellington. Commodore Erskine, who has been superseded in the command of the Australian squadron by Admiral Tyron, has been appointed a Commodore of the first class, and the promotion was aeknowlpged to-day by a general salute from the warships in harbor. _ E. T. Booth, the Blue Ribbon Missionary, sailed for Auckland by the Ringarooma to-day. Hobart, January 15. The conference between the Victorian and Tasmanian Ministers, with the view of establishing a mutual customs tariff is now being held here, but it is doubtful whether any agreementwill be arrived at. (Received January IG. 1.20 a.m.) Evening. Arrived, this morning, I he lonic, from Plymouth, December 0, There is

no sickness on board, but two deaths occurred on the voyage. Among the passengers are 217 emigrants. (Received January 16, 12.40 p.m.) Melbourne, January 16.

The Hon. James Service recently addressed the Hon. R. Stout regarding the Conference of Premiers which it was proposed would shortly be held, and inquired whether Mr Stout would be able to attend the Conference, if held in Melbourne or Hobart in February next. Mr Stout promised to give a definite reply next week. In replying to the letter addressed by the general secretary of the Free Church to Earl Granville with reference to the New Hebrides Islands, the Imperial Forego Secretary states that he considers the agreement entered into with France regarding those islands to be still in force.