AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 299, 21 January 1911, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

REASSURING NEWS. By Cable—Piess Association —Copyright Sydney, January 2u, Anxiety as to the training ship Mersey, which left Melbourne for Sydney ten days ago, has been relieved by a warship in the harbor intercepting a wireess message from file Mersey, though the message was not clear. BUSH FIRES. Sydney, January 20. Bush fires in the Wentworth district have been cheeked after sweeping an enormous area of grazing country. AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE ACT. Sydney, January 20. Considerable reluctance is shown by many parents to register boys under the new Defence Act. A MENACE REMOVED. Sydney, January 20. The flood ill the Clarence river swept out vast masses of water hyacinth, which was becoming a serious menace to navigation. A COMBINE IN SALT. Sydney, January 20. A leading master butcher asserts that butchers' salt is 150 per cent, dearer than some years ago, owing to the operations of a powerful ring. POSTAL CONFERENCE. Hobart, January 20. An inter-State postal conference is sitting and discussing matters of general importance to the service. SUGAR COMPETITION. Brisbane, January 20. At the conference of sugar-growers it was stated that the importation of Java sugar is seriously menacing the industry. Ten thousand tons have arrivea during the past three months. A strong protest was entered against this unfair competition by colored labor. THE EVERTON GRANGE. Sydney, January 20. The Marine Board found that the stranding of the Everton Grange was primarily caused by an error of the compass, but the master, second and third officers were guilty of careless navigation in neglecting ordinary precautions. As, however, the ship sustained no material damage, it was not intended to refer the case for further investigation. THE MURRAY RIVER. Melbourne, January 20. A conference to discuss the Murray waters question has opened. New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia are represented. Victoria claims the necessity of making irrigation paramount over navigation. South Australia urges the importance of preserving navigation, while admitting the right to utilise the available balance of water for irrigation. ALLEGED YANKEE OPERATIONS. Melbourna, January 20. Mr. Tudor, Minister for Customs, re- i ferring to the 1 reported operations of the American 'beef trust in New South Wales, said that if it became necessary to take steps to protect the producer and consumer, it would afford him the greatest pleasure to exercise the full legal powers when he had certain information. i