Second Edition COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 98, 20 December 1912, Page 6

Second Edition COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) (Received 9.25 a.m.) Sydney, December 20. Destructive bush fires have occurred in the, Cootamuudra district. Some forty thousand acres of grass and considerable quantities of wheat and hay were destroyed. Groat dissatisfaction continues among telegraphists over the schedule, which, it is claimed, has already broken down. The men are restless over the official delay in dealing with the trouble. Cyclonic storms occurred at Kyoglo and Brewarrina, and many buildings were damaged. The Sydney retail butchers and Wages Board agreed to withdraw the week’s notice given to the employees and consent to the varying of the award so as to allow the shops to be closed at 6 o’clock on Saturdays. , The High Court, in deciding an appeal, unanimously declared that the Federal land tax was valid. A Dickens Fellowship has been formed in the city. The newspaper’s hint at the possibility of Mr. Holman undertaking the position of Agent-General. Newspapers give the Australasian estimates of the wheat yield at 23,056,000 busheds, an average of 102 bushels per acre. “King” O’Malley is planning the issue of a new comprehensive atlas for Australia.

Melbourne, December 20.

Justice Higgins replied to the Telegraphists’ appeal re a compulsory conference to settle the grievances that tiie case needed arbitration, and ho could not promise another hearing owing to other citses pending.