AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 427, 27 April 1899, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

- [united press association.] (by electric telegraph—copyright). Sydney, April 25. The quarterly banking returns show an improvement of 3d in the £ in the proportion of cash to liabilities, as compared with the previous quarter. In other directions the figures are also of an encouraging character. Colonel Bell, the American Consul, will represent New South Wales at the Philadelphia International Commercial Conference. The postal officials estimate that the adoption of the penny ocean postage and a coincident penny inland rate, would mean an annual loss to the Australasian colonies of £433,000, the loss of New South Wales being £103,000. The federal campaign has opened. The federal bodies have appointed a strong joint organising executive. The AntiBill League has issued a condemnatory manifesto. Many speakers from both camps are in the field. Mr Barton will shortly visit Brisbane, and will deliver addresses on Federation. The Federal Referendum has been fixed for June 20th.

The Cabinet has decided to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the question of tuberculosis in cattle and the danger of ticks spreading to New South Wales. An elaborate scheme of fraud by means of forged postal orders has been nipped in the bud. Three men have been arrested. The Australian cricket team has elected Darling captain ; Tiumble, vicecaptain ; Wardill, Darling andTrumble, Finance Committee ; and Darling, Trumble and Gregory, Selection Committee. At the biennial meeting of the Grand Lodge of Oddfellows reference was made in the report to the restrictions of the Friendly Societies Act of New Zealand, making the possibilities of extending the order to that colony remote. Adelaide, April 25. A madman violently attacked Mr Hirsch, a justice of the peace, and several of his relatives, with a hammer, near Laura. One of the latter eventually shot the madman in the legs and his capture was effected. Mr Hirach is in a serious condition. Latjnceston, April 25. At the Marine Court of Inquiry regarding the wreck of the Australia, the captain and chief officer were found not blameable. The second mate's certificate was suspeuded for 12 months. He admitted not having looked at the logbook, and that he had not read the general instructions. The evidence showed that the Australia was about three miles out of her usual coime. Brisbane, April 25. The police, it is understood, have important rsformation bearing on the Gatton tragedy, and an arrest is imminent.