The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-07
4 FEDERAL CONVENTION
Australian Colonies Are Not
Making Much Progress.
DISASTROUS BUSH FIRES
Victoria and Tasmania Have Suffered
Severely - An Entire Township
Wiped Out - Australian
Gold Production.

Vancouver b. c., March 6.-The Aus
tralian mail to hand by the steamer
Aorangi contains very full reports OF
the meetings at Melbourne of the feder-
alton convention. The convention opened
Jan. 20, and when the Aorangi left,
Feb. 6. no great progress had been MADE.
When the convention got down to bust
ness it took up the federation enabling
bill. A long discussion took place over
the Judiciary bill. 1t was decided ulti-
mately that as regards the high court,
the bench should consist of at least a
chief justice and two other justices. The
right of appeal To the imperial privy
council is abolished except in cases in
volving public interest. a proposal Civ
ing over all railways, without consent
of the states, instead of railways that
might be agreed to by any state, was re-
jected.
Another proposal to include a power
to deal with Cancellation and arbitra-
ton for the prevention and settlement OF
industrial disputes extending beyond
the limits of any one state was agreed to.
A question which had almost resulted
in deadlock when the mail left was a
proposal to place the Murray. Darling
and Murrumbidgee rivers under federal
control The New South Wales delega-
ton raised the cry that their colony was
being robbed of its rivers. At last the
convention unanimously decided as a
preliminary to remove from the bill the
sub-clause giving the federation the
control and regulation of the navigation
of the Murray and the use of its waters
from where the stream forms the bound
airy between Victoria and New South
Wales TO the sea. Various compromises
regarding other rivers were being dis
cussed when the mail left.
Lord Brassey, governor of Victoria,
had a narrow escape from drowning
just before the steamer left. He had
been aboard the Nelson, in Melbourne
harbor observing a regatta, and while
changing from a launch to his yacht he
fell into the water.
The Queensland and South Australian
governments have forwarded replies to
the recent dispatch from Mr.. Chamber
lain, secretary of state for the colonies,
on the question of an imperial 2-penny
postage rate, stating that they are not
favorable TO the reduction of the post
age to two pence, as it would entail
loss of revenue.
The colony of Victoria, like Tasmania,
has suffered fearfully from bush fires.
Fires are reported from all parts of the
colony and much damage has been
done. Scores of families are homeless
In Tasmania Chief Justice Sir Lambert
Dobson is obtaining a report of the
damage done by fire 10 guide the relief
committee in its distributions. Nothing
has ever been known before in the
southern colonies like the ruin wrought.
and this year will long be woefully
memorable, both in Victoria and Tas-
mania. From Adelaide and Wellington.
New Zealand. come further reports %
bush fires. The report from New Zea-
land says the fires did serious damage
The township of katuna, near Fielding.
was all burned but one house.
H., 70 H.,
greatly excited about the new mining
regulations which prohibit alluvial min
ers from sinking below 10 feet. The OBJ
ject is to prevent common pick and
shovel swingers" from getting down TO
bedrock and entering upon the reefing
branch of the mining industry
Nictoria's output of gold for the past
year is 772.720 ounces. Bendigo tops the
list with 200.32o ounces. an increase of
s.3s2 ounces, compared with 1896. Then
comes Bailarat, 1880 ounces. There
is mining revival in Queensland. Re
turns from various gold fields through
out Queensland give the gross total for
January of $50 ounces. which, COM
pared with those of January, 1897. is an
increase of .2s6 ounces.
The Queensland separation movement
is not dead yet. a delegation is To be
sent TO England to urge the imperial
government to divide the north part of
the colony from the south and give each
part responsible government.
New Zealand's gold export for the
year was worth e9S2O40 against
91.04l,42S for the previous year.
At Brisbane. Queensland. the Progress
sive Reform league has been formed.
with the following platform: One-One
adult, one vote. Two--Anstralia for the
white man. Three-Queensland markets
for Queensland producers. Four-Ad-
iustment of taxation according In abil-
ity TO pay. Fiye-Land for those who
Will cultivate it, Six-lndustrial peace.
Seven-Free higher education and tech
meal Instruction.