AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 290, 19 May 1898, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(by electric telegbaph—copyright;. THE SHIP VOLADOR IN A GALE. Sydney, May 18. The Volador, which has arrived from Napier, struck a gale in the Tasman Sea and was hove-to for some time. A portion of her deck cargo of timber was washed away. The vessel sustained slight damage. THE EDINA-MANAWATU COLLISION. Melbourne, "May 18. The Marine Board fouud Forbes, master of the Edina, guilty of gross misconduct in connection with the Edina-Manawatu collision, and suspended his certificate of competency for \?i months and ordered him to pay £3l towards the expenses of the enquiry. He intends to appeal.. The charge against the pilot is not sustained. A NEW AUSTRALUN-TASMAN-IAN CABLE. Melbourne, May 18. The Eastern Extension Telegraph Company intends to lay an entirely new cable between Victoria and Tasmania at a cost of about £60,000. THE WEATHER. Melbourne, Maj 17. There is a severe drought iu a great part of the colony. Water and feed are scarce, and the winter prospects are poor. Seeding is being delayed, and the lambing is proving very disappointing. Adelaide, May 17. Good genial rains have fallen, and a good season is practically assured. LOCAL OPTION • Sydney, May 17. The annual meeting of the Local Option League has adopted, as a new battle cry for the elections, "Local and State option, without compensation." SHIP IN DISTRESS. Sydney, May 17. The ship Waterloo, which has arrived at Newcastle, reports sighting the ship Crown of India dismasted and badly damaged off the South Solitaries on Thursday. She asked for assistance, and two tugs have been despatched. NEW GUINEA LANDS. Sydney, May 17. The wholesale alienation of New Guinea lands to an English company was discussed in the Cabinet to-day. The decision was undisclosed, but it is believed the Government will ask the other colonies to make a joint remonstrance to the Colonial Secretary. (Received May 18, 7 p.m.) Melbourne, May 18. The Age in referring to what it characterises as " The monopoly proposed to be created in New Guinea for a British land boomiDg syndicate," says it is outrageous, the fate of Australia may be involved in what on the face of it appears to be merely a smart business deal. The paper strongly animadverts Sir William McGregor's action iu refusing previous applications by Theodore Bevan, the New Guinea explorer, on behalf of the Australia development syndicate, and then referring to the policy in favour of the mysterious British syndicate, it severely condemns Duncan Gillies, the Victorian ex - Premier, for joining the directorate of a company which proposes to exploit Australian territory, and accuses him of wanting to imitate Cecil Rhodes in the Jameson raid. It urges Premier Turner to lose no time in taking steps to have this preposterous grab defeated or withdraw Victoria's New Guinea subsidy.