LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2877, 18 January 1886, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[REUTERS TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. THE SEAMEN’S STRIKE IN "VICTORIA. BOARD OF CONCILIATION. ARREST OF A SUPPOSED BANK ROBBER. (Received January 18, 1 a.ra. Melbourne, January 17. The shipowners have accepted the proposals put forward by the Board of Conciliation, and the men resume work tomorrow morning, provissionally at the rate of Is 3d per hour, until the difficulty is settled. (Received January 18, 12.35 p.m.) January 18. The Board of Conciliation which has been decided upon to settle the differences between the shipowners and their employers will consist of eleven members. Five will be appointed by each side, and the umpire will be appointed by the delegates. A man named Beal was arrested by the police yesterday. He is supposed to have been the leader in the recent attempted bank robbery at Collingwood. Arrived, this morning, the P. and O. steamship Tasmania, from London. Sydney, January 18. The various steamers sailed on Saturday, with non-union crews. This morning matters assumed their normal condition.

[Per s.s. Te Anau, at Auckland.] Melbourne, January 8, Extremely hot weather was experienced, and bush fires in the Western districts have done damage to the extent of £4OOO. Thirty families were burnt out.

A tremendous fall of rain took place on Thursday, over three inches falling in some localities, and much damage was done, bridges being swept away, and dams and reservoirs burst.

Sydney, January 8. Sir John Robertson’s speech at Mudgee did not clearly foreshadow how the deficit in the revenue was to be made up. He said that in a similar situation, some 3'ears ago, he had been compelled to resort to ad valorem duties, much as he hated them, and the finances had been brought all straight. He also has announced that it will be necessary to impose fresh taxation, but without interference with the principles of freetrade. Mr Heydon, Minister of Justice, who is leader of the protectionist party, has subordinated his views to those of his colleagues, who are mostly staunch freetraders. An opinion gains ground that an income and property tax will be imposed. Brisbane, January 8. The latest intelligence from the quarantine station is that all is well, only one or two similar cases of diarrhoea having occurred.

Particulars of the murders of Captain Fryer and Watkins in the South Seas have been received. The murders took place at Feste Island, and the cause was Fryer showing all his trade. The natives surrounded the captain on the deck of bis own vessel and clubbed him to death.