The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-07-02
AUSTRIA LIAM NEWS.

The news from Il he Australian colonies
brought by the Ala. media is not of sen.
sational character; ut there are, never
theless, several items of interest to oul
readers.
No additional action has been taken in
New Zealand regarding mail communi-
cation with America; but the Auckland
press devotes considerable space to the
ADVANTAGES that must accrue to the col
onies from continued direct cOmmunica-
ton with San Francisco. Nothing is
said concerning the Canadian route and
| there seems to be a concensus of opinion
among mercantile men, both in Aus
tralia and New Zealand, that the San
Francisco route is best for the colonies,
although in political circles this prefer
ence is not nearly SO much pronounced.
A coal trust has been re-established at
Newcastle, New South Wales, with a
capital of 100000. The object of the
movement is to combine with proprie-
tors of the leading mines to maintain
present prices OF coal.
The East Indian government has in
formed the government OF Victoria that
it is prepared to purchase 1000 horses in
Australia for army service.
A statue of Sir William Wallace, the
Scottish patriot, the work OF Percival
Ball, of Melbourne, was unveiled at
Ballarat with great ceremony. The
statute. which cost 81 900, is magnif-
cent work of art, and was purchased out
of bequest made by the late j. Russell
Thompson, of Ballarat, as present for
the citizens. A special train from Mel
bourne conveyed members of the Gale
DOMAIN Society to Balarat to take part
in the ceremony, and Mr.. Nlmmo,
Minister of Public Works, performed the
unwilling in the presence OF a large
crowd. The so-called English flag was
not present upon the occasion.
The government of Victoria has issued
an order regarding the entrance of foreign
warships to Port Philip, the harbor of
Port Melbourne, and has appointed
special anchorage for foreign men-of-war
in the rear of the western entrance to the |
south channel. None of the foreign |
vessels will be permitted to land armed
parties.
There have been very heavy and pro-
tracted rains and floods in many parts of
New South Wales and Victoria. Severe |
gales of wind have also devastated the |
coasts, and many cases of shipwreck |
have occurred, accompanied in some in
stances with loss OF life.
The Commission appointed in Queens |
land to inquire into the condition and
prospects of the sugar industry presented |
a very discouraging picture, and its |
members differed as to the measures
to be recommended for its revival. I'M
mense sums (for the colony have been
sunk in this enterprise, yet there is
much doubt whether it can be saved |
from collapse. The preponderance of
opinion amongst those who have studied |
the question ON the spot, points to the |
conclusion that colored labor is a neces-
sity for the planters. 1t is not merely a
question whether white men can work
in the overpowering heat of the cane
fields, though that IS a very important |
issue; nor it is simply a matter Of cost. |
The question of trustWorthiness is also |
to be considered. There is less fear of
the blacks than of the whites suddenly |
striking for better terms when the crop
wants cutting and the planters are in a
corner. However, it has been remarked
that at two general elections the consti-
tuencies have pronounced against col
ored labor. Politicians cannot afford to
disregard the voice of the constituencies,
even though in obeying it the prospects
of a great national industry may be
sacrificed.