AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1923, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION FEDERAL POLITICS. MELBOURNE Feb. 0. Extraordinary secrecy is marking negotiations going on between Mr Bruce and Dr. Earle Page, tin* leaders of the Nationalist, and t.'ountr.v Parties. They conferred at a pi irate house to-day. unknown to the rank and tile of the two parties. No announcement hns been made of the result to the press.

WOOL MARKET. MELBOURNE. Eeh. fi. The February wool sales opened with a strong demand. All better classes of merinos were fully equal to late rates, hut ordinary and inferior qualities of merinos and fine crossbreds declined about 5 per cent. •SYDNEY, I'Vh. (i. At the wool sales the selection of offerings was good. Bidding was very keen, all countries operating lively. I .ate rates were well maintained. LONDON, Imh. fi. At the wool sales, there was a poor selection of merinos, and an average selection of cross-hreds. There was a brisker Continental competition, and all classes were firm. Al Bradford there was small business, top-makers slightly easing quotations. A few spot lols were ottering rather under market quotations. WANTED SOME R.UN. SYDNEY. February 7.

Long continued hot illy weather is causing alarm. With the exception of favoured spots practically no rain has fallen ill the country districts since the beginning of the year. ’I he natural feed is exceedingly scarce and dairymen in many place- are compelled to hand Iced slock. The position in the western pastoral areas is serious. Ex-c-pting a moderate Tall in Dec. mhoilast there has been practically no rain for a year and water is getting scarce Unless rain comes soon, the position will he disastrous.

GOAL OUTPUT. (Received this dnv at 10.30 a.m ) SYDNEY, Eeh. 7. The coat production for 1922 amounted to 10.793,000 tolls, a decrease of six hundred thousand on 1921 output, which was a record. The Riverine coal mine is expected to he ready in three months, fi is staled the coal will lie marketed at one-third the cost of coal at present used in Riverine. The Commonwealth shipping line lias extended operations and reductions to cargoes from Continental ports to Australia. The move does not infringe tinrecent agreement between the I'omniouivealth and Conference lines. SYDNEY, Eeh. 7. The athlete Carr, is sailing for No a Zealand on Friday liv the Manuka. FEDERAL FINANCE. MELBOURNE, Eeh. 7. 1 1 the Federal revenue and expenditure figures continue as healthy during the second half of the fiminoial year as Hie first, it i- cm'acted the sin plus will exceed four million.