AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 32, 9 February 1901, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

[FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received 8, 9.43 a m.) SnwEY, February 8. Mr. Bartofl, Jaafc night, said he was a Prot'etionist n'd nols aahamed to gay so. Protection mus'! be maintained od editing industries. They must have a revenue tariff and moderate protection. They did not propose to destroy national industries, like tbe sugar industry. The Federal tariff muat, not be a sectional one, and they wou'd take care that one State would not rule the roust. Every one must have a fair share of the

surplus. In regard to the New Hebrides hs ftaid the Federal Government bad already addressed the Imperial Government with reft ranee to recent representations on the matter. Tiler* were other external relation?, such as New Guinea, Tonga, and Fiji to consider. He gave an assurance that tbe Government would endeaveur to conserve the interests of Australia without eaat arrowing the Empire.

Other spetohes in support of the tariff as outlined by Mr. Barton and in deprecation of setting State against State were made. Received g, 9.57 a.m. Adelaide, February 8. Sir Salter Pyw», Chief E gineer to &0 A neer of Afghanistan, has arrived en a visit for tbe benefit of his health, Dt'truc'ive bush fires hive occurred at Mount plesswst, and much grass and hundred* < f sheep were destroyed. The damafo i* «stimnt e d at £IO,OOO.

Received 8.10.3 a.m. Melbourne, February 8. A heat wave, accompanied by disastrous bush fires, bas ocourred iu manv di-tricfs. At J-ianxhoW, b«-id«n j;r»at destruction tostock and other propeity, a Dumber of rtsid tc*s }«! vet ee : bnrot. A h»»b, i!clivt"S!S \v#s burn d todo.rh i.?*i s'-ve; i n-.-ir-'. -Tij ! At Co,.da!!. - in- Ri-Ti.i : c'Jm.»c*.' and x;',r- ... . <» -ifoyt'' ;vi ay •> ! >; • -p c . - e. „ .• burnt, At WurfMLb*;«j fiire hou.-i-v ware bufDt oil th« outskirts of tho town i W&ngaratta reports that the

Sydney expi «» had t« run th.-oujrli a taiga area of liuraisi-- wmntrv. hvsengers were i-»t* * m i spectacle. At Huarxda'o sovival ii

were Jr. tin: Bufiipyws district a vasv ni'i of nnJ m»ch stock >u»i. hj ' l;i some life was a-Is-> 1., tho k-i! jlarat oistrisfc sumo mining pin..,is were threatened, while in other districts many of tho out-lying ssttitrd were burned out. j A dust storm of cyclonic force swept j the city last might. It lasted a few

camuts.s. A'l t:a(7ic was siopprd. The storm so fierce that it curried foot passengers off their font, snapped telegraph poise, and unroofed a number of buildings. , Received 8, 10.23 a.m. Sydnf.v:, February 8.

The Federal Cabinet meets to-day, it is understood, to discuss the Pacific Islands question. Tho thermometer yesterday was over 1 0 9 in the shade in the city. Showers of rain at night cooled tho atmosphere. The half-vearly mr-e'ing of the Commercial Emk of Australia declared a dividend of 3 per cent, on prtferanre shires, carried £30,000 to the special trust reserve, and £13,000 forward. The report states that the business showed a steady improvement, and was a reflex of the improvement of affairs in Victoria.

The reconstruction and consequent reduction of State Ministers has resulted in a saving of .£IOOO annually. When the Defence Department is taken over by the Federal Government there will ba a further saving of a similar amount.

The Herald says the sensational rumour that ths Pacific cable is in jeopardy owing to Canada's intended ! withdrawal docs not seem to have much behind it. (Jommetiting on the position, it adds that since Mr. Seddon has been in Mdb.mrno hs sjems to fcavo persuidsd Victoria, Queensland, and New Zealand to undertake to do nothing do'rioaent J to the Pacific scheme by taking any important step at present. It would appear that Canada creates tha delay, and raises objeotions from whatever point of view she chooses to View the question. The result seems to mean a delay in the completion of the cable and disappointment cf Australian hopos. It is quite time now that the contract was signed, and >hfiSG Stat 1-8 began to act firmly for themselves in dealing with the question.

Brisbane, February 8. Mr. Pnilp, pp-afciD" to the Eirly Closing Association, siid the sugar industry was ono of tha most important questions. Queensland should hesitate before it did anything to menace the industry. The time would come when th<y would requira little or no coloured labour. In ths meantime let them give the people engaged in the industry a fair show.