AUSTRALIAN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3492, 23 April 1890, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

Mage Seductions, Floods at Bourke. Sydney, April 21, The. town of Loutn,on the Darling, 68 miles below Bourke, is surrounded by water. The residents have erected embankments, April 22, The water remains stationary at Bourke, .aud it is oxpooted it frill be three weeks before it commences to recede,

Nine hundred women and children are living under canvas at North Bourke, where rations are served out .daily, Many of them have been rendered destitute, North Bourke is now an island three miles square and about ten feet above high water.

It is estimated that if the postages are reduced by all the routes this colony will suffer a loss of about £IB,OOO annually. Government await arrival of full details before taking any steps in the matter.

Melbourne, April 21, Tho Mounted Rifles have accepted the invitation to take part in the military tournament in England nexl year,

April 22. . The Hon. F.T.Derham, PosmasterGeneral, is not inclined to accept the proposed reduction of colonial postal rates, as ■ Victoria' has already inourred a heavy loss in reducing the inland postages, and he considers any further concessions inopportune. If, however, tho other colonies aooept the proposal it would be invidious for Victoria to stand out,

Brisbane, April 22, . The Postmaster-General states he is unable to express an opinion on the question until further information is received as to what the loss means to the colony,

Adelaide, April 22. It is understood that Government are likely to oppose any alteration in the postal rates involving a loss of revenue,

Wanrapa and Bast Coast Pai toral and Agricultural Society.

The following is the report of the operations of this Society for the year 1890, and will be of interest to the Bottlers generally, The subscriptions last year amounted to £193 3s; private prizes, £154 Is 6d, The raonoy paid away in prizes amounted to £187103.

Eeport. Gentlemen,—The Committee, in laying before subscribers the'annual statement of accounts ■ made up to Ist April, have much pleasuro in informing subscribers that the-pros-pects ot the Society have materially improved during the past year, Tho principal event of the year, viz, the annual show, held on August 22nd, 1889, proved: an unqualified success. The other events, viz, the Parade ol Stallions, and the Bum Fair, may also be considered or fairly successful, The, increasing interest' taken'in Pastoral matters is very gratifying. There was a slight falling off in tho number of exhibits, but the quality elicited most flattering comments from both Judges and visitors. Tho Committee beg to tender their most cordial thanks to those gentlemen who so liberally gave private or special prizes to be oorapoted for at the Show—a circumstance to which without doubt, the success of the event is mainly attributable, The increase in tho number of members of the Society has been marked, the members roll now being almost double what it was two years ago, The Committee cannot ; overlook the valuable services rendered by the gentlemen officiating as Judges at'the last Show, The; bank overdraft has been lessenod by £B9 3s lOd; the payments to the Investment Society by £2B 16s, and two debentures redeemed, making in all a net increase on.last year's balance of £137 19s lOil, In concluding the report the Society is to be congratulated on its sound establishment and its prospects of a successful falm. The meeting will be called upon,to eject a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Auditor, and five members of committee, who retire in accordance with tho.'rules,I am, &c. • A, Matthews,. ~. ' President,