AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 273, 16 June 1888, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

, * THE A.M.?. SOCIETY. Tin voting tor the election of three directors to hll the vacant seats at the board oi the Australian Mutual Provident Society resulted as 'follows :--Tho!-. Lifctlejohn, 32,587 ; James Thomson, 27,032 ; R. J. King, 22,386 ; A. W. Week*,, 21.884; A. H. K. Maxwell, 20,514 ; Ale\ander Wilson, 15,587 : W. ]>. Manning, 10,725; Fiederick Lee, 8,607; William Brigo S , 5,078 ; H. J. Spier, 3,504. There were two vacancies caused by the retirement of Mr Littlejohn and the death of Mr George Knox, and another director had to be elected in accordance with the provisions of by-law 10. Messrs Littlejohn, Jame> Thomson and R. J. King were iherefoie elected.

AFFAIRS AT THE NEW HEBRIDES. H.M.p. Raven returned to Sydney on fcho 30th May from a cruise among the New Hebrides (iron p. Matters were all quiet at the islands when the Raven left. The agreement between England and France for a joint protection over the New Hebrides (Iroupwasfounally ratified early this month A\hilbt the Raven was at Port Sandwich. The French warship Fabert has been com-mi.->bioned to 1 epre&ent France in the group, and H. M.S. Diamond England, and both vessels will take periodical trips among the islands, making Noumea theirheadquarters. Whilst the Raven was at Penticoat Island inquiries were made into the murder of Mr H. Lee Walker, of Noumea. Thisgentle man, Id will be remembered, was brutally killed by the natives of Penticost Island several months ago. The officers of the Raven found that Mr Walker gave the natives no provocation whatever and that they murdered him with the sole object of plunder, he having a considerable amount of trade, &c, with him. The name- of the murderers were obtained, and eflorfcs will be made by the Diamond, which is now in the group, to capture them. An attempt was made to connect a case of kidnapping and the shooting of a nutixe with the death of Mr Walker, but after careful investigation the olHcerri of the Raven concluded that it had nothing whatever to do with the matter, the of lender being a Frenchman' who will most likely be dealt with by the French warship in the group.

LIGHTING SYDNEY BY ELECTRICITY. The finance committee of the Cifcy Council met yesterday, Avhen there were present :— The Mayor, Aldermen Chapman-Hiu-die, Dean, J. D. Young, M. HarrisBeare, Hart, Manning, E. Jones, Buckle, Riley, Play fair, Poole, Palmer and Taylor. A letter was received from \\\ H. Vivian, agent for C<anr. and Co., to the effect that as. they heard the council intended calling for tenders for lighting the city by electricity, they would bo glad to compete for the work. They had recently contracted to supply a complete plant for a central station to the Australasian Electric Company, Melbourne, for 3,000 incandescent lamps, with which plant they could supply their Zypemowsky - Deri patent tiansformers, by means of which the electric light could be supplied economically to long distances. This would be the first introduction of the transformer system into the Australian colonies.

' ' There is one paper that will destroy the polish of anyone it may come in contact with." "Bless me, my good man, what is its name- ?" " Sandpaper, madam." Jimmy McGinnis to Mickey Gallagher : " Mickey, are you equal to a blizzard V " Phwat's that, Jimmy ?" " A glass of beer, Mickey." " Och, faith, an'oi'll take a hurricane." Two young vritors were talking of their hopes, their ambitions. "If I have nob made a reputation by the time I'm thirty, I shall blow my brains oub," asserted one. "My dear boy," replied the other, " you're as good as dead." It's Yankee, you know. — Hotablespi Native (producing flask) : Irrigate ? Tern perate Tenderfoot : No. H. N. (producing pipe) : Fumigate ? T. T. : No. H. N (producing Navy plug): Masticate? T. I. : No. Disgusted Native (uncoiling mule whip) : Castigate ? Timid Tenderfeet (flying) : Evaciiato ! Wrathful Native (pulling trigger) : Perforate ! Blobbs said the other day to an intoleiv able talkor — "I give you the best bit, of, advice you ever received. Try and go. three days without speaking, and when, you've succeeded begin over again.'