AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cablo Association.] BUSH FIRES. MELBOURNE. Dec. 23. The Rubicon lire is still raging. The damage already amounts to over £IOO,OOO sterling. The sawmilling settlement at Alexandra was wiped out, the inhabitants barely escaping with their lives. About- twelve thousand acres of seedlings from seven to eight years old are now threatened. It is stated the fire started in one of the camps of the Electricity Commission and the Forestry Department may claim for the full amount, of the damage caused, against the Commission. Smaller tires in various parts ot the State caused heavy damage. BRISBANE. Dec. 23. Serious bush fires in Loiigreach district destroyed a large number ot stock. Extensive damage was done and several fire fighters were injured. VICTORIAN POLITICS. MELBOURNE. December 21. T,, overcome the deadlock between the Assembly and the Legislative Council the Treasurer has presented a new income tax bill to the Assembly. He said the rates would he half tho-e originally propo-i-d which would have brought in L’2^7. 11(1(1. leaving a surplus of nine thou-and. The* bit! passed all stages ot both Houses. HVD.VF.Y SHIPPING. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 24. The annual report of the Sydney Harbour Trust discloses that during the year -St)o2 vessels of a gross tonnage of 15.(i23.989. entered the port. This is only 3.2 per cent, below the previous record.

(),X FORESTRY. SYDNEY, Dee. 24. Sir Herbert Matthews, Secretary of the Central Council of Agriculture of Loudon, has arrived cn route to New Zealand. He issued a warning that a famine in soft woods was imminent. Matthews said although Australia and New Zealand used large quantities o' soft woods little was being done to replenish the forest. This unhappily was the* position throughout- the world, hut New Zealand, fortunately, was taking reafforestation seriously. New Zealand methods however, could not he adopted in England, because early maturing soft woods could noL be grown in Great Britain.

VICTORIAN POLITICS. MELBOURNE. Dee. 2-1. A new Taxation Bill whic h wa.s introduced as an alternative to the resignation of the Government is estimated to yield C 143.500 sterling. BUI LIVINGS RETURN. SYDNEY. December 24. A return issued by tin.' Water Board shows that during the year 10,939 new buildings were completed and connected with water in the city and suburbs compared with 12.190 in the previous year which was tue highest yet recorded. Buildings in 1925 cost tH1.5J57,140 sterling compared with C 1 1.3-10.071 in 1921. COAL MINES. SYDNEY. December 24. A Roved Commission inquiring into the safe working of coal mines considered the loss of coal which the present day methods of mining was responsible for. Evidence was submitted sliowin---that the sealing oil meant a serious loss of coal and the existing conditions of work were opposed to successful ext ruction, of oillnrs. and unless some radical change in methods is adopted a great loss is inevitable. It appeared that only hv a Mushing method could a reasonable extraction be expected. At Humber eolleries much coal would he hist owing to tlie harriers left between the various mines of coal under railways and villager and in many ease's barriers tv," chains wide were left cm each side, of the boundary lines. Taking a seam, at twelve feet thick this meant between six hundred and seven hundred thousands tons of coal per mile which in the case of Maitland mines would amount to millions of tons, fu one area six million tons were involved. ft was suggested that a hoard of three mining engineers should ho appointed to supervise the working of such materials.

SYDNEY WEATHER. SYDNEY. December 21

The weather is fine and warm foilin' holidays. The city is thronged, including a large number of countryvisitors. Trade generally is extensive, shop-keepers stating there is a much greater demand for all classes ol goods than last year.

N.S.AV. POLITICS. SYDNEY. Dec

Consideration of the Bill in the Assembly for Lice amendments to the constitution, to enable women to l>e appointed to the I pper House provoked an acrimonious debate, one member likening n woman who wished to enter polities to a crowing lien. The correspondence between .Air Lang and the Governor was tabled and showed a big gap in the file, disclosing that there had been no communication from the eighth to sixteenth. Iho Minister explained that this was due to the letters being purely- confidential. The correspondence showed Mr Lang insisted 011 the Governor following the advice of his Ministers. The Governor pointed out he hat! received a communication from the Colonial Office to tlie effect that it seemed that established constitutional principles required that questions should be settled "between the Governor and his MimsThe Governor added that he placed the powers of the Governor beyond

question. .Air Lang replied, dissenting from this view "and again urging the appointment of the twenty-live Councill-

ors. . Then followed a conference with the Governor and further communications to .Air Lang wherein Ids Excellency intimated he would consent to the appointment: of fifteen members. Mr Lang replied, regretting the Governor had rejected the advice of Ins Ministers and stating any number less than twentv-live would he inadequate. The Governor, after denying lie rejected the Ministers’ advice, then agreed to the appointment of the 25. "lb Ministers were, throughout, to maintain friendly relations with the Governor, hut they state they do not know his future intentions. One Minister said he feared the Governor would take a serious view of the affair and resign.