AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11500, 5 February 1903, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

United Frees Aseooiation—By Elootrio j Telegraph—Copyright. SUGAR REBATE PAYMENTS. (Received February 4th, 10.6 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 4. Aβ the result of a conference between the New South Wales and Queensland Premiers, the former cent a letter to Sir E. Barton, dealing with the question of sugar rebate payment*, suggesting a basis of distribution of revenue to the various States, and outlining the anomalies under the present system of paying rebates on sugar grown by whites. NEW SOUTH WALES LABOUR CONFERENCE. The Labour Conference resolved that, aa womanhood suffrage tad been granted, there should be no reduction in the number of State members, but recommended the abolition of the Upper House; that trade unionist employers should receive preference in Government contracts; the extension of full civil rights to civil aerranta} and that the minimum wage should not be l«e than seven ehillinge for all Government employ, ment. EASTERN EXTENSION CABLE COMPANY. . MELBOURNE, February 4. The Federal government is coaeiderujg proposals to purchase the Eastern Extension. Company's cable between Tasmania and Australia. The price quoted is between two and three hundred thoueaijd pounds. . THE PLAGUE OUTBREAK. PERTH, February 4. The plague officers ridicule the suggestion tnat the outbreak was due to freeb, importation, and declare tb»t the germs have been dormant since the previous outbreaks COLLAPSE OF CIRCUS STAGING. ADELAIDE, February 4. During a iperfonnenoe at Wirth ■ Bros. circus, a portion of the staging gave way, precipitating four hundred peapl* to th« ground. The performance was resumed, but soon afterward* another portion collapsed, and , a hundred spectators fell. Many received nasty bruisee and abrasions, but now were seriously injured:. WEST AUSTRALIAN GOLD YIEXJ). (Received Februaoy 4th, 11.37 p.m.) PERTH, February 4. The State's gold yield for January wai 210,460 ounces, a record for a month. Last year's total yield* wae just over two roUlioß ounces, Kalgoorlie contributing about one■haH. Out of this Ivalf dividends were paid representing £1,214,000. SEED WHEAT FOR FARMERS. (Received February sth, 12.28 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 4. Seed -wheat, with the expense of distribution, will cost the New South Wales Government £100,CCO.