AUSTRALIAN CABLE NEWS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 21 February 1901, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN CABLE NEWS.

(per press association.-—copyright.) Died at Sea. Svdnky, February 21, D. Conway, a second-class passenger from Dunedin, died aboard tho Taluuc. His relatives reside at Uoslyn, Dunedin. The body was brought on shore for post mortem. The Fijian Question. Sydney, Fob. 20. Tho Fiji Times to hand by tho Birksgate, in commenting on Barton’s black labor proposal, says that under these conditions it would seem almost hopeless to the inhabi'ants of Fiji to look towards Australia with that dominion on anything like an equal footing. Medical Opinion.

Sydney, This Day

The Council of tho New South Wales’ Alliance have published a declaration signed by a number of medical men, condemning the indiscriminate use of alcoholic liquors, as well as other signatures obtained from I be beginning of the year to date. In imports Sydney showed a comparative decrease of £210,000 and the exports a decrease of £64,000.

Large Shipment of Specie.

Mei.rourne, This Day.

Three thousand sovereigns were shipped by the Damascus for South Africa.

federal Poitics. Sydney, Feb 20

A proclamation has been issued that the Federal Government takes over the Military, Naval and Defence Departments on March Ist.

At a meeting of the Federal Cabinet details were discussed with reference to taking over the services and the Bills to be introduced. Mr Barton stated that owing to the number of Bills to be dealt with it was uncertain if the tariff would be touched during the first session of the Federal Parliament.

The Royal Visit. Received this day, at 9 41 a.m. Melbourne, Tin's Day. It is expected that the York festivities will cost about £IOO,OOO and extend over a week.

The Cable Question. The Agent-General cabled that the Pacific Cable Board meets on the 25th, and will consider whether Victoria is justified in signing ihe Eastern Extension agreement. The Premier informed (he Agent-General that the Victorian Government desired to do nothing amounting to a breach of faith, but would he glad to have the same advantages of reduced rates by the Eastern Extension lines as secured by the other Australian states if the Pacific Board can approve.