Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Friday 12 October 1900, page 4


The Sydney Morning Herald.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1900.

Sir George White has been promoted to the rank of General, and Sir William Butler to that of Lieu-

tenant-General.

British troops lined both sides of the Lydenburg-road, cheering Sir Redvers Buller, who will shortly

return to England.

The first train from Capetown to the Rand, to run on next Wednesday, will convey 400 returning

miners.

The British have reoccupied Smithfield, Rouxville, Wepener, and Dewetsdorp, in the Orange River

Colony.

The War Office has issued orders for the disem-bodying of 41 militia battalions and 12 artillery and

six engineer corps.

Lord Roberts has publicly thanked the colonial troops for the devotion and bravery they have dis-played, especially extolling their conduct in the

Elands River affair.

Requisitions have been made from Hongkong for reinforcements of 10,000 Indian troops. The Bengal Lancers and the Hongkong Regiment now at the front have been recalled to Hongkong.

A Reuter's correspondent states that it is reported that the Hongkong authorities have been informed that a general rising in the southern provinces has been arranged for November.

The correspondent of the London " Express " reports that the Triad Society threatens to over-throw the reigning dynasty.

A French force of 800 men with six guns has left Tientsin, in order to relieve a party of priests who are imprisoned at Ching-hsien, about 30 miles to the

south of Tientsin.

The majority of the Powers have agreed to the Note of M. Delcasse, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, regarding the basis on which negotia-

tions with China should be conducted.

Reservations are made by the United States Government, notably as regards that portion of the

Note proposing to place permanent garrisons on the

road to Peking.

The British are guarding the Chin-wan tao Har-bour, to the south of Shan-hai-kwan. A new ex-pedition to Paoting-fu will leave Tientsin to-day. It will consist of 7000 troops, comprising British, German, French, and Italian.

The rebels in the Kwang-tung province to the westward of Kaulung, the British possession opposite Hongkong, have defeated a force of Chinese Regu-lars. The Viceroy has despatched more troops to

cope with the insurgents.

The Shanghai correspondent of the " Daily News " states that the Empress-Dowager is unable to de-

grade and adequately punish Prince Tuan while he is recognised as the father of the heir to the Throne.

Germany declares that the Russian-German rail-way arrangements are purely military.

A cable message states that the New South Wales Naval Contingent leaves Tientsin for Peking on Tuesday.

Chinese reports, which are considered trustworthy, state that the Dowager-Empress is seriously ill at Taiyuen-fu, and that the Emperor has a free hand in

affairs of State.

Li Hung Chang has informed Germany that Ying-nien, Kang-yi, and Chao-shu-chiao have been de-capitated ; that Teailan and Prince Chang-yi have been imprisoned for life, and that Prince Tuan has been banished to the military post roads on the

Siberian frontier.

In the Legislative Assembly yesterday the Premier (Sir William Lyne) read a telegram which had been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, stating that " Her Majesty's Government are not prepared at present to consider any proposal to change the political position of Fiji."

We publish to-day a letter from " Our Special Correspondent," written from Taku on September 13. The letter states that the Australian Naval Con-tingent had received orders to proceed at once to Tientsin. It was considered probable that the con-

tingent would winter at Peking.

At the Goulburn Circuit Court yesterday, before the Chief Justice, John Sleigh was found guilty of the murder of Francis Curran, at Back Creek, near Bombala, on August 25. Accused was sentenced to

death.

A fire broke out at Clermont, Queensland, yester-day, in a general store. Five buildings, covering a frontage of 200 yards, were completely destroyed.

The first day's show in connection with the Namoi P. A. and H. Association was opened yesterday. There was a very large attendance of visitors, and over 350 entries were received in the various sections.

In Melbourne yesterday probate duty amounting to £12,404 was paid in the estate of Thomas McKel-lar, grazier. The estate was valued for probate pur-poses at £124,043.

The Railway Commissioners in response to a re-quest from the local Farmers and Settlers' Associa-tion have given a conditional promise to erect a grain shed at the Corowa railway station, with a holding capacity of 20,000 bags.

The select committee appointed by the Legislative Aseembly to inquire into matters affecting the work-ing of the Free Public Library met yesterday. Mr.

H. C. L. Anderson continued his formal reply to the

evidence that had been given.

It is reported from Bourke that the latest estimate gives about 600,000 sheep in the Bourke district, as compared with 3,000,000 reported a few years ago. The graziers, it is stated, are despondent with regard to the prospects of the next few months owing to the

need of rain.

The conference of delegates from the Intercolonial Chambers of Manufactures was continued yesterday. The morning sitting was given to the consideration of reports from sub-committees. At the afternoon session Mr. C. E. Ludowici read a paper entitled

" Our Trade Relations."

In the billiard match of 21,000 points between J. Roberts and F. Weiss for £500 a side, the game at the close of last night's play was—Weiss (receives 7000), 9338 ; Roberts (to play), 2400. On the pro-

portion of the handicap Roberts is 1107 behind his

points.

A farmer named Edward Hood, living at Warrack-nabeal, Victoria, returned home on Tuesday evening and found the dead body of his mother lying across the fireplace in the kitchen. Deceased was 67 years

of age.

In the Mining market yesterday coal shares con-tinued very firm. Silver stocks were generally dull, but there was a better tone in Western Australian gold companies towards the close of the market. Business generally was quiet.

A quiet tone prevailed in investment stocks on the Stock and Share market yesterday, and prices showed but little change from the previous day's

quotations.

When the other day the Premier told the Chamber of Manufactures that all the power of the colony to produce iron was latent, there was truth in his state-ment. He might have given wider scope to his remark, and said that we do not produce a thousand and other things of which there is latent power of production in the territory of New South Wales. But that would have simply served to show the weaknesses of the case he sought to make out. Had he supple-mented his statement by other facts— that the territory is two and a half times as large as the United Kingdom, that its population is limited to 1,356,000 (about

one-thirtieth the number in the mother

country), that these people are wholly employed in the development of its other resources, and that they are on the whole more prosperous than any like number of people in the United Kingdom—then

his hearers would have had before them a fuller statement of the true conditions which he and they wish to disturb. In his budget speech Mr. Lyne set these forth with commendable fairness, and if they have due attention by the Chamber of Manufactures we shall hear less of their proposals to appoint committees to consider the questions of metals, clothing, timber, and tobacco, with a view to a visit to the Parliament for grants in aid.

Everyone will be glad to hear of the creation of an establishment for the manu-facture of steel when this can be con-ducted without throwing a share of the expense on all the other producers and manufacturers in the country. We have seen with general satisfaction the con-struction of smelting works at Cockle Creek on the Hunter, and at Dapto in the Illawarra district. These have been estab-lished and are doing good work for the country without throwing any of the risks of the business on the general com-munity. The country is quite as free to those who wish to exploit our iron ores and convert them into steel rails or any other merchantable commodity, and if such can be produced of good quality and at a reasonable price they will find favour with consumers. The creation of a popular sentiment in favour of the use of local products is much more likely

where it is not sought to be forced, as the Chamber of Manufactures desire in the case of the commodities they mention. Their policy will only end in the produc-tion of a bitter feeling against those who wish to promote their own interests—of course as a secondary consideration—in the important work of establishing in-

dustries.

But what we now particularly desire to emphasise is the fact of the great de-velopment of our resources already in progress. It might be supposed that in consequence of our freetrade policy there is a large proportion of the population idle and compelled to leave the country from lack of ability to develop them. That might have been the fact had we entered on a protectionist career like our neighbours south

of the Murray. But for many years our people have been employed steadily

without the interference or aid of the Go-vernment in promoting such of the industries as furnished to them the pros-pect of the most fruitful returns. Pastoral, agricultural, dairying, mining, and manu-facturing enterprises have all been entered upon under unrestricted and unassisted conditions. And when the results are contrasted with those of the State-directed enterprise of Victoria what do we find ? In 1861, Coghlan's " Seven Colonies " shows that we exported £5,016,891, or £14 4s per head of domestic pro-duce ; while in 1899 the export was £19,221,854, or £14 6s 6d per head. In the same time our population increased more than threefold, but the exports of domestic produce developed still more fully. How can it be urged that our people are open to the imputa-

tions of the Premier and the Chamber of Manufactures ? On the other hand, what do we find in Victoria, the home of the principles and practices of the protec-tionist class? In 1861 the colony exported £10,596,368, double the amount of domestic produce sent from New South Wales, being at the rate of £19 12s 7d per head of the population. Last year it

exported but £14,038,600, or only £11 18s per head. It cannot be said that the sister colony has flourished under this system, for not only does it indicate so much less developed wealth per head, but, as might well be supposed, the population

but little more than doubled in the 38 years. All the great difference in favour of New South Wales will not be claimed by any intelligent freetrader as the result of the system under which he has lived and prospered. But it is obvious enough that the colony has been greatly helped in its growth and development by its un-restricted system, just as it is equally clear that the progress of the sister colony has been retarded by the handicap of heavy taxation on the farmers, graziers, and

most other producers of Victoria.

If the Chamber of Manufactures will leave Australia undisturbed to develop

such of its resources as are suited to the circumstances of its limited population, its progress will be continued according to the superior measure of that we have seen in New South Wales. But if, on the other hand, it interferes to divert the people from the development of the vast natural

resources of these lands into the fanciful

artificial enterprises which have retarded the growth of Victoria, then we can only look for the more moderate expansion in all material forms. The power of vested interests is no doubt very great. We have seen how it has converted some of the one-time freetraders of Melbourne into fairtraders, or even into pro-tectionists, though they show themselves to be half ashamed of the name. And we are afraid that the Chamber of

Manufactures will obtain support for their schemes from people who have made themselves accessible to the same class of arguments. But as against these we believe it will be found that the great bulk of the pas-toralists, the farmers, the dairymen, the miners, and the producers of every kind who depend upon themselves, as well

as those connected with all the subsidiary interests, will not allow their own prosperity to be jeopar-dised by the special taxation of their incomes at the behest of any organisations, however pretentious may be the objects set forth. Aus-tralia, under the enterprise of a free population, needs no grants in aid from a motherly Government to develop its resources. And the effects of any policy of the kind can only be the degra-dation of the spirit and the limitation of the resources of the people of the Com-

monwealth.

One of the most important obstacles in the way of a settlement of the Chinese difficulty is the doubt as to who is the real ruler of the Celestial Empire. Our cables this morning state that the Chinese report on trustworthy authority that the Empress Dowager lies seriously ill at Taiyuen-fu, and that one of the consequences of this is that the Emperor has a free hand in

affairs of State. We were told a few

days ago that the Empress Dowager sat silently by whilst the Emperor harangued

the Ministers of State after a fashion to which they were not accustomed from him. What is known about the

personal habits and the character of the Emperor, brought up from his infancy to look at matters from the point of view of the Empress Dowager, obliges students of events to question the probability of so sudden and complete a change as all this would imply. Certainly it is more in consonance with the methods of Chinese

diplomacy to believe that the prominence lately given to the Emperor is merely a device. Jealously guarded from the view of his subjects at all times, the Emperor might well have passed beyond all human ken long before now and nobody be the wiser except the few whose interest it is to observe strict secrecy. There have not been wanting those who believe that the Emperor was removed at the time when " Her Sacred Majesty," as the decree of January 24 styled the Empress Dowager, appointed P'u Chun, son of Prince Tuan, to be Prince Im-perial. In that decree the Emperor spoke of there being no place in which " to hide ourself for shame," and it would have been quite in accordance with precedent for the powers about the throne to save further trouble by quietly removing him. In support of this theory comes the statement that Prince Tuan is still in power, and that he was amongst those who in the Emperor's name issued the decree sentencing himself and other Boxer leaders to

punishment. We have, to be sure, as against this the statement by Li Hung Chang, contained in our cables of this morning, that Prince Tuan has been banished, and that of his colleagues in the Boxer leadership some have been de-capitated and others imprisoned for life. Unfortunately this statement cannot be accepted as final. It stands in need of verification, as indeed do all the state-ments emanating from Chinese officials.

Another obstacle in the way of the settlement of the Chinese question is

the jealousy which is said to exist

between the Allies, coupled with the selfish policy pursued by at least one of them. We are told that Russia, having gained possession of Man-churia, is seeking Chinese support, and that she, in the capacity of " the only friend of China," has restored the Tsung-li-Yamen building to the Peking Govern-ment. This piece of information comes from Dr. G. E. Morrison, the Australian who won his high reputation as an authority on Chinese matters by his intrepid exploration of country unknown to Europeans, and who has maintained it by showing in his communications to the "Times," whose Peking correspon-dent he has now been for some time, a thorough grasp of the position and the possession of excellent information. Russia emphatically denies the existence of any sinister designs on her part. It is true, she admits, that her generals have annexed Manchuria, but the annexation was only a temporary measure devised for the frightening of the rebels.

As soon as things are settled, the Russian Government states, Manchuria will be handed back to China on the receipt of an assurance that the Celes-tial Empire will secure the peaceable use of the Manchurian railways and the undis-turbed navigation of the Amur River. It is not unreasonable to suppose, in view of the history of Russian advance, that circum-stances may arise which will force Russia regretfully to reconsider her present deter-mination in this regard. Meanwhile the profits of the affair mainly rest with Russia. Again, the fact is pointed out that the Russians and Germans hold the Peitang forts and the command of the coal supply of North China. It is claimed that all the valuable strategic positions are in the hands of the Allies of Great Britain, and that none are in our hands. The British Empire is, in short, represented as having contributed to the restoration of order in men and money, and as having been jostled out of the re-sults by greedy and more pushing nations. At the same time, both at Hongkong and Shanghai, British in-terests are menaced by Chinese move-

ments.

If this be true, it only emphasises the position that Great Britain has all along held with regard to China. Territorial aggrandisement was never the British policy. When portions of Chinese terri-tory were ceded to Great Britain it was because some other Power had occupied points of vantage which it was necessary to balance. Thus the occupation of Wei-hai-wei was a necessity imposed upon us by the seizure of Port Arthur.

What Great Britain has aimed at all

along has been the extension of her com-merce. With that end in view she has, either singly or in company, secured the opening of the treaty ports, free to all the world. The study of the Blue Books issued with regard to China confirms the statement that what Great Britain seeks in the Celestial Empire is not the acquisi-tion of territory, but the opening of the country to commerce and civilisation. The Blue Books teem with refer-ences to the efforts of this or that

Power to compel concessions from the Chinese, but the British agents were mainly concerned with commercial matters ; they were consuls, not diplo-matists. We in New South Wales are definitely interested in the matter, as we are reminded by the cable in this morn-ing's issue announcing that the naval contingent we sent will leave Tientsin for Peking next Tuesday. It was not to help Great Britain in a greedy grasping at territory that New South Wales sent this contingent ; it was to support Great Britain in her determination to punish the authors of outrages, to vindicate the right of peaceful British residents in foreign lands to live unmolested, and to restore order generally. There seems to be some indignation at Shanghai as to the supposed isolation of Great Britain amongst the Allies ; but for evidences of this we look in vain. The very positions which Germany and Russia have occupied giving them the command of the coal supply of North China were placed at the disposal of Great Britain before the present development took place. The offer was declined simply because it did not consort with British policy in the Far East. Further, the mere occupation of positions by certain of the Allies does not necessarily mean that other of the Allies are to be excluded from such benefits as may accrue from it. The Commander-in-Chief (himself a German) may have thought it right to allocate these positions to certain troops, whilst he disposes of the rest in other directions. At the same time it is satisfactory to find that Great Britain has definitely put

herself into line with the other Powers in

the matter of the punishment of offenders and the restoration of order. The general elections now proceeding assure Lord Salisbury in his position of authority, and he will speak more boldly and weightily for the Empire than when there was a possibility of his policy being dis-turbed by the accession of another Ministry to power. Now that the South

African war is all but over this trouble

in China is the most pressing problem for the British Empire.

" Prejudged."—We begin to-morrow the publication of a new story, " Prejudged," by Florence Montgomery, the author of " Misunder-stood." There is all the power in " Prejudged " which made the first book so deservedly popular, but the treatment of the varied incidents has the added charm which artistic restraint confers. The story is one which appeals mainly to the romantic side of human nature, and the interest is maintained from beginning to end. Both hero and heroine are fine characters, and the other persons of the drama are life-like.

Vice-regal News.—Lady Lamington and Miss Brisco will arrive at Government House to-day

on a short visit.

New Zealand and Fiji.—The Premier yester-day evening in the Legislative Assembly informed the House that he had received a cable message from the Secretary of State for the Colonies in-timating that he was not prepared to con-sider at present any proposal with regard to the federation of Fiji with New Zealand. The text of the message received by Sir William Lyne is as follows:—" Referring to your telegrams of

October 5 and 9, her Majesty's Government are

not prepared at present to consider any proposal for changing the political position of Fiji." The Premier declines at present to make any com-

ments on the matter.

Cable Communication.—The Postmaster-General has received the following message from Adelaide :—" Berne notifies : The Anglo-Ameri-can Telegraph Company announces that tele-grams for the Isthmus of Panama and Buenaventura, in the United States of Columbia, are subject to censorship."

Schedules to the Estimator.—The schedules to the Estimates containing details of payments made to public officers who hold more than one office or draw allowances above their salaries, and also details of military and naval allowances, were laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly last night.

Draw-gear on Rolling Stock.—The Premier laid upon this table of the Legislative Assembly yesterday a return giving particulars with regard to the fitting of the standard draw-gear to rail-way vehicles at the Eveleigh workshops. The return showed that about 11,189 vehicles had been equipped with the gear in question, the weight and cost of the parts which were purchased from outside firms being respectively 1272 tons and £48,414. The weight of the parts made in the workshops was approxi-mately 826 tons and the cost about £27,482. Some 2302 sets of the draw-gear, costing about £16,149, were fitted to new vehicles and charged to capital account, whilst 8887 sets, costing £59,747, were charged to working expenses.

Mails and Mail Steamers.—Early this morning the Oruba, in the Orient line, is due from London. The steamer is to make fast to the Orient buoy off Neutral Bay, and the company's steam tender will convey the passengers ashore. To-morrow the Cuzco is timed to leave the Orient Wharf for London, and after her departure the Oruba will take up the berth at the Quay. The Canadian-Anstralian Company's Aorangi, hence to Van-couver, is leaving Brisbane to-day for Honolulu. Yesterday the Armand Behic, from Marsailles, arrived at Melbourne and left for Sydney. She is due here to-morrow on her way to Noumea. The Himalaya, hence to London, arrived at Adelaide yesterday, and continued her voyage for Fre-mantle. The next English mail due here is by the P. and O. Company's Oceana on the 16th

instant.

The North German-Lloyd.—Messrs. Weber, Lohmann, and Company write :—" We have been asked to call attention to the alteration in the sailings of the Norddeutscher-Lloyd steamers, as per advertisement on front page. The altera-tions are unavoidably caused through the fire at

the Hoboken Docks of the Norddeutscher-Lloyd

in New York, and the chartering of 15 of the N.D.-L. steamers to the German Government as troopships for China. It will be noticed on looking at the sailing list that the service for March and April is now four weekly instead of three weekly as originally intended, but the three weekly service will be inaugurated as soon as the

steamers are available."

Island Excursions.—A regular service has now been established by Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Company's steamers with Lord Howe and Nor-

folk Islands, under which time-table dates will be adhered to. In connection therewith the firm, having in view the approaching holiday season, purpose issuing round tickets at reduced rates. The island trip will occupy 24 days. A line will also be run to the New Hebrides, the round trip taking in all the principal islands of that interest-ing group, and occupying six weeks.

The Reported Gun Fire at Fort Denison.—The report sent to the police the other day that some-

one had fired a gun at Fort Denison has not yet been cleared up. The charge of the island is in the hands of the Navigation Department. Last Saturday morning the Superintendent of Naviga-tion, Captain Edie, received a report from the caretaker of the island, in which it was stated that a charge had been fired from the gun on top of the turret early that morn-ing. The matter was placed in the hands of the police, who have since been investigating the affair. " The joke was accentuated by a piece of painted calico being left on the place," said Captain Edie yesterday. " I have never seen a Boer flag, so can't say whether it was like one or not ; but, in order to get the blank charge into the gun and fire, the man, I should think, must have climbed up the lightning conductor. Nobody was hurt, and at best it was a foolish and mad-

brained business."

The Duchess of York.—Respecting the Duchess of York " M A P." publishes the subjoined paragraph :—" It must have been a real dis-appointment to the Duchess of York not to be able to descend, as she wished to do, to the depths of the Randolph Colliery the other day, for she likes nothing better than sight-seeing, and when she goes to a new place, leaves nothing unexploited that it is possible to see. The hostesses who have the honour of entertaining her are always well posted in this trait of hers, and carefully prepare a suitable programme. When the Duchess paid her first visit to Dublin, Lady Cadogan, for example, was quite equal to the occasion, and showed her distinguished visitor quite a mis-cellaneous collection of sights. The Duchess conscientiously 'did' the cathedrals, drove through old and new parts of the city, carefully inspected the Museum, and was delighted with the ancient church of St. Michan, where, in the vaults below, the peculiar properties of the earth have preserved in a wonderful way the bodies of the dead, and the public can gaze on the faces of people who departed this life in the last century. The Duchess of York spent quite a considerable time in these vaults, to which Lady Cadogan rather reluctantly accompanied her. Very thorough in everything she does, the Duchess is equally interested when going over a China manufactory or a work exhibition, and the guides who show her round always find her a sym-pathetic listener to their explanations."

Dr. Laure Again Honoured.—Last night be-tween the first and second parts of Verdi's " Requiem " there was a gathering in the artists' room of the Town Hall, in honour of Dr. Laure, one of the vice-presidents of the Sydney Philhar-monic Society. Sir William Manning (president) bestowed the emblem of the society upon Dr. Laure, remarking that during that gentleman's lifetime in Sydney he had been an active and esteemed member of that association. It was a

great benefit to that Australian community that

men like Dr. Laure should come from abroad and settle here to teach us to love the arts. In that way Dr. Laure's presence had been of advantage to the whole city, but especially to that society, which could not allow its vice-president to return to France without some memento of affection and admiration. Sir William Manning then requested Miss Jessie King to pin the emblem, a beautifully modelled harp of gold, upon Dr. Laure's coat, a little function which the English contralto per-formed with good-natured alacrity. In reply, Dr. Laure acknowledged the gift of the charming sou-venir, and referred to the fact that when he arrived in Sydney 32 years ago, he was better acquainted with operatic music than with oratorio. His stay here had remedied that deficiency, and he owed a sum of gratitude to the several choral societies of the city in that respect. Especially he must mention the old Musical Union and the Philhar-monic Society, coupled with the valued names of Herr Josef Kretschmann, Mr. Sydney Moss, M. Henri Kowalski, Herr Max Vogrich, and " last but not least in love," their present maestro, Signor Hazon. He again thanked them for a souvenir

he should ever cherish.

Colonel Bell's Recognition.—The demonstra-tion to be held in the Town Hall to-night to do honour to Colonel Bell, late United States Consul, Sydney, promises to be a popular function. The chair will be taken by his Excellency the Governor, and in order that the Premier may be present we understand that the steamer to the Rich-mond has been delayed until after the meeting. The Liedertafel, with a choir of 120 voices, accom-panied by the grand organ, in addition to other numbers are to sing " The Star-spangled Banner.'' Miss Jessie King will sing " A Summer Night," with 'cello accom-paniment by Herr Vollmar, and grand organ by Mr. Wale. A " Hymn of Thanksgiving " is to be sung by Miss King with both organ and pianoforte accompaniment. The address to be presented to Colonel Bell is bound in levant morocco with mountings of 18ct. gold weigh-ing 8oz. 2dwt. Another presentation is also to be made. We understand that over 2500 accept-ances to invitations have been received, and as a portion of the hall is to be set aside for the general public it is likely that the meeting will be of an interesting character. Mr. W. McMillan and the Right Hon. G. H. Reid will be among the prin-cipal speakers.

Death under an Anaesthetic.—A man named

John Fagan, a labourer, lately residing at Stanley-street, died at the Sydney Hospital on Wednesday afternoon while undergoing an operation. De-ceased was admitted to the institution on Tuesday suffering from an internal complaint, and it was decided to operate on him. An anaesthetic was administered, but the patient collapsed and died. A post-mortem examination of the body was made yesterday by Dr. Taylor, who certified that death was due to natural causes. An inquest has been dispensed with.

Fire at Newtown.—Shortly before 4 o'clock yesterday morning a fire was discovered in a grocer's shop at 178 King-street, Newtown, occu-pied by Mrs. James Wood. The fire had a good hold of the premises, but was extinguished by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade with one hydrant. The ground floor was considerably damaged by fire, and the rooms above suffered from heat and smoke. The stock, consisting of groceries, was also ruined. The cause of the fire is unknown. The building was insured in the United Insurance Company for £800, and was owned by Mr. Martin Danahar, of Marrickville. The contents of the building were not insured.

To-morrow afternoon an ocean excursion will be made to the Hawkesbury River by the steamer Sydney, from the foot of Market-street, affording excursionists an opportunity of enjoying a delightful ocean trip, and of viewing several miles of unsur-passed river scenery.

The military authorities notify that the rifle range will be open from to-day as usual.

Mrs. E. L. Jones, of Bickley, Strathfield, has

placed her residence at the disposal of the committee of the Sydney Female Mission Home, and a sale of

work in aid of the funds of that institution will be held there on Wednesday, 17th instant.

The Sydney Labour Council at a meeting held last night approved of the rates of wages, varying from 10s to 13s per day, which the Operative Electrical Union are endeavouring to establish.