AUSTRALIAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 137, 16 January 1886, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

Fydney, January 7. —Negotiations for the roduction of the cable rates between Australia and New Zealand are still proceeding. The Postmaster - Geneial oi New South Wales stipulates for a considerable lowering of the tanffin consideiation of the continuance by hi? ci'lony of the subsidy for a further period of five or ten years. It is announced that, subject to the concurrent c of the colonial representatives at the Beilin Telegraph Conference and the Government of New Zealand, arrangements have been concluded for a ra_e of 6d per word, the present minimum ot 10 words being abolished. The Australian and New Zea land Pre3S, not considering the reduction sufficient, are withholding any stipulation as to a guarantee of increased traffic.

Sydney, January 8. A cablegram has been received by the Postmaster General irom the New Zealand Government, in reply to his communication on the subject of the continuance of the cable subsidy and reducing the tariff The New Zealand Government, in its telegram, states its willingness to agree to similar terms to thoso proposed.

Sydney, January Bth. Owing to the many disastrous accidents in tho harbour lately, tho jury recommended that boats be licensed to carry a certain number ot passengers in the same manner as vehicles. The Primato leaves to-day per Te Anau with his family. Ho will be absent six or seven weeks.

Melbourne, January 9. - Mr Service has arranged to addresa his constituents at CastlemaJne on Wednesday n-xt, and Mr Berry will meet tho leaders of the Liberal party on Thursday. It is oxpectod that some" announcement will be maJe m regard to the impending changes in tho Ministry recently foreshadowed in the " Argus." Forty five wharf labourers have arrived from Adelaide to replace the strikers. The men have been placed on board Messrs Huddart, Parker, and Company's steamer Errangamite, in order to prevent intimidation from outside. The Trades Council have held a meeting, at whioh. a resolution was passed expressing sympathy with the Laboureis' Union, and tho various trades unions are warmly supporting the action of the strikers.

Later. — Forty-five of the mcii who were brought over from Adelaide by the shipowners have joined, the l^/nion men, regardless of the contract under which they were engaged. Sijt; of the labourers who came from Sydney have also xxw&Q common cause with tho ruon, on £>{tf&& , The Trftd^g Oouncil has written to ithe eh^ptxvners proposing the establishment ot a Board of Conciliation in settleuj.e,^ oji the present difficulty.

Melbourne, January 7. The drought which has been present- in 4us«r»li. or some time has now broken up, and good rains have been experienced throughout the colonies the last 24 hours. !

during Melbourne, Jan S. — Continuous and heavy rains have fallen in the colony, and the bush fire 3 are being extinguished. In consequence of the grbat dauiagu uoi« by them in the Western District of Victoria, many settlers are completely burnt out. The men employed in the flour mills at Melbourne have demanded a reduction of work to 8 hours per day, or a total of 48 hours weekly. Tho masters are yielding to the of the men.

request Melbourne, Jan 10. — Fifty more men newly arrived from Adelaide here, joined the Labourers' Union. The " Argus " this morning states that the seamen are dissatisfied with tho laying up of steamers, and that they contemplate striking also. They hold hold a meeting to-night to consider the question.

Melbourne, January 12. —The Seamen's Union held their meeting last night, to consider whether they should not join the .Labourers' Union in striking. Eventually it was decided to invite the operation of the Seamen's Unions of New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, and New Zealand, and if a favourable reply were received from them to strike in 24 hours. It is expected that if the seamen go out the stewards and cooks will follow their example. Great hostility is being manifested towards the firm of Howard, Smith, and Sons, whom it is proposed to boycot.

Melbourne, January 8. Extremely hot weather has been experienced. Bush fires in the Western districts have done damage to the extent of £4,000. Thirty families have been burnt out. One man 13 reported missing, and several narrow escapes occurred. A tremendous fall of rain took place on Thursday, over three inches falling in some localities, and much damage v/as done, bridges^ being swept away aud dams and reservoirs burst. A boiler explosion occurred at Malone, and an engine-driver was killed. Melbourne, January 12.—The dispute between the men employed in the flourmills and the masters still remains unsettled. The men are willing to agree to a reduction of ten per cent on all wages above £2 por week on condition that tho hours be leduced to eight per day. The millowners have refused any concession, and if a settlement is not arrived at the men will go out on strike on the Ist February.

Adelaide, Jan vary 11. —It is now believed by the Agricultural Department that the average yield of the South Australian wheat crop will not exceed three bushels per acre.

Brisbane, January 8. The latest intelligence from the quarantine station is that all is well, only one or two simple cases of diarrhoea having occurred. Particulars of the murder of Cap fain Fryar and Watkins in the South Seas have been received. The murder took place at Teste Island, and the cause was Fryar showing all his tro^e. The natives surthe captain on dec! if his own vessel, and clubbed him to deal 1 .