AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2924, 9 November 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE INCENDIARY FIRES. Sydney, November 8. As the result of the series of fires in the city_ recently, and the revelations in connection therewith, many large busihouses have adopted drastio precautionary measures. :A BIG METAL CONTRACT. ' Sydney, November 8. It is stated in financial circles that a contract has been completed "with the British Munition Department for covering the copper companies' products in 1917, estimated at fifty .thousand tons and valued at six millions, at a prico of £120 per ton, an increase of 20s. on the 1916 rate. A COSTLY RAILWAY. Melbourne, November 8. Owing to allegations of waste in the construction of the Kalgoorlie-Port Augusta railway, a board has been appointedHo inquire into the matter. The original estimate of the cost was £3,955,000, inclusive of £291,000 for rolling stock. Up to July last £3,256,000 bad been spent in construction. It-is now estimated that the completion of the line and the provision of rolling stock will involve a total of £6,948,000. SOFT DRINKS AND SIX O'CLOCK ■ CLOSING. Sydney, November 8. The Legislative Council has struck out the clause in the Liquor Bill permitting the sale of soft drinks in hotels after 6 o'clock. IMPORTANT PAPER-MAKING ENTERPRISE. 1 Sydney, November 8. Mr. Joseph Campbell's experiments in the production of paper pulp from noxious weeds and vegetable dyes from scrub trees and natives plants have met with pronounced success. Paper mills and woollen manufacturers have thoroughly tested the products. Ponding the formation of a powerful syndicate, Mr. Campbell proposes erecting a plant at Kanima, near Cairns, to execute trial orders which are valued at £15,000. He expects the first-paper pulp to be available in January. GOOD TIME FOR JAPANESE • TRADERS. Sydnay, November 7. Since the war commenced Japanese traders havo been reaping a rich harvest. Importations to Australia have heen steadily increasing, and the Christmas orders are exceptionally large, mostly representing trado formerly held by Germany and some American lines. There are also considerable quantities of hlankets and sorges, made from Australian wool. The quality of the earlier shipments were faulty, but latterly there has been a marked improvement, indicating the keen adaptability of tiie Japanese to oustomers' requirements. THE BAN ON EVERYTHING GERMAN. Adelaide, November 8. The Assembly passed a Bill closing Lutheran schools and prohibiting the teaching of the German language in primary schools.