AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3058, 20 February 1892, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(by electric telegraph—copyright.) Sydney, February 18. _ A serious subsidence has occurred in the Proprietary Block 14 mine, at Broken Hill,, the trimline having fallen eight feet for a distance of 100 feet. The Proprietary authorities say it will not affect their property, as the portion where the subsidence took place is worked out. It is expected the creep will continue for several days. A terrible explosion of the blasting compound known as rackarock is reported from Broken Hill. A man named George was killed and four others horribly mutilated. One of them, who had the lower portion of his body blown away, still lives. The party which has been formed under the name of the Retrenchment Party, made an assault on the Estimates la .t night, with a view to cutting them down, but was defeated by large majorities on every point. February 19. One hundred and fifty feet of Block 14 Mine has been crushed in. A few days must elapse before the train connecting Proprietary Block 14 and the British mine will be replaced, otherwisb the workings of the mines have not been interfered with. Adelaide, February 18. Mr Price Williams, of Wales, has approached the Government relative to the completion of the Trans-Continental Railway, with branches to New South Wales and Queensland. It is proposed to construct it on the principle of hypothecation. The land syndicate which Mr "Williams represents, would be prepared to begin work as soon as the London money market is in a favourable condition to raise the necessary funds. The Government have promised to give the proposal careful consideration. Hobart, February 18. Owing to an action pending by a shareholder against a director of the Bank of Van Diemen's Land, charging the latter with issuing a false and fraudulent balance-sheet, an application has been made to restrain the Royal Commission already appointed from investigating the affairs of the bank. The decision of the Court was reserved.