AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 290, 9 December 1901, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

PEB FBESS ASSOCIATION. Melbourne, December 6. In the Senate Mr McGregor's amendment to the Immigration Restriction Bill, providing for direct exclusion of all Asiatics and aliens was negatived by a majority of one. The Labour members complained that they were sold over the amendment by the Opposition, and voted with the Government, parsing the claufe as originally proposed. The Imraieration and Kanaka Bills were read a third time and passed. Mr Deakin is of opinion that the Commonwealth will have to take over tne Cope cable agreements nrde by the various States. He will decide next week.

Block 14 Mining Company has notified a reduction of wages similar to that in Block 10.

The directors have decided to suspend mining smelting operations pending the procuring of additional capital.

Brisbane. December 7.

Mr James Mills and wife ar a passengers by the Moann. Mr. Mills state that while in England he arranged contracts for two new steamers for the Union Company. One will be 4500 tons f r the intercolonial trade and the other 8500 tons for the New Zealand-Calcutta trc.d». He hop°s | soon to put, the Vancouver service on better lines. The Union Company intends to make a vigorous effort to develops the Australian-Canadian trade. He arranged with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company to send i an experienced passenger agent to Australia, and to make Sydney his headquarters. Mr Jam«!B Mills, interviewed recurding the Vancouver mail service, said hnd opened negotiations wit.h the Canadian Government, nnd would bave to do the sunn with the Federal Government. If the c e were successful the Union Company would build thre a new 8000 ton 16 krot steamers. Whether the line would again irwke Auckland or some New Zealand port its port of call would depend upon the company Sfcuring the New ZeilandAnstralian mail contract. It was, however, very probable that Fiji or Samoa would be made a rnUi g plice. Re was very favouriMy impriss d with the prospects of trade between Australia and Canada.

) Perth, December 7. Two of Mr. Morgans' recently formed Cabinet, Messrs. Wilfon, Minis'er for Railways, and Moss, Colonial becre t»ry, have been defeated at the polls. Mr. Morgans' seat is safe, though the figu'es are not complete. A fire at Kilgnorlie destroyed two hotels and two large business premises. The ex'ent of the damage is not yet known. Received 8. 4.58 p.m. Sydney, December 8. Arrived : Ventura, Sailed : We«trali». Boaid of Health is hopeful that the plague outbreak is over. No bubonic rats have been caught since November 26th. The last plague patient is convalescent. Adelaide, December 8.

A Bill giving power to a private enterprise to acquire the city tramways led to aMg stonewal'. The House sat. at 2 o'clock on Friday afternoon, and late hat night the second reading was carried by seven votes,