COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 24, 29 January 1915, Page 2

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

.FIRE IN A COLD MINE. [United Press Absootatioin ■ Melbourne, January 27. A serious outbreak of fire at the Diamong gold mining property, at Diamong Creek, demolished the entire surface plant. Some employees who were imprisoned in the mine for three hours had a narrow escape. The damage is estimated .at fSOOO. THE PRICE OF MEAT. Sydney, January 27. The inquiry into the increased price of meat was continued to-day. Evidence on behalf of the pastoralists claimed that the increase was largely due to the absorption of pastoral lands for dairying purposes, the increased percentage of animals suffering from tuberculosis and war demands, and added that the cost of ■ running stations was forty per cent, above the cost of ten years ago. '. It was a fact that the Australian Meat Company was financed from the United States.

"AFTERNOON SHIFT" DISPUTE. Sydney, January 28. The afternoon shift conference failed, all the proposals on either side being rejected. The men's representatives, after stating that' the men had turned down the proprietors' proposals made at last conference, made suggestions for the abolition of the second shift in various mines' within six to eighteen months. He also .asked for an extra, threepence per ton after the first three months of the abolition of the 1 'shift, and ten per cent, extra, to all employees work, ing the second and third shifts. The proprietors turned down the proposals and renewed the offer of the previous conference, and, in addition, paying 3d per ton on pick-won coal in the afteroon shift, while they will pay 2d per ton on machine-won. They placed a limitation on the afternoon shift in various ■ mines" at three to five years. There are no proposals for a further conference. THE WHEAT "CRAB." Melbourne, January 28. The hearing of the wheat seizure case has concluded. Judgment was reserved. BUSH FIRES IN TASMANIA. Hobart, January 28. Destructive hush fires are raging hi various districts. Several homesteads and much property and crops have been, destroyed. THE HERMANN CASE. Sydney, January 28. The "Hearing 1 of change's' of forgery and uttering against Joseph Earle Hermann has been adjourned for three weeks, to enable an investigation of his accounts to he made. It is stated that during ten years seven millions passed through Hermann's' hands. HEAT WAVE IN SYDNEY. Sydney, January 28. The heat wave continues unabated, 103 degrees having been registered in the city to-day.