AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 231, 4 February 1911, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SYDNEY HARBOR PROGRESS. By Cable— Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, February 3. The Harbor Trust is making great efforts to meet the growing demands for harbor accommodation for oversea traffic. It is expected that within fifteen months the harbor will have ample berthing room. It is now crowded with oversea liner.?. The total shipping that entered Sydney last year was 7,000,308 tons, compared with 0,019,000 in 11)00. COMMERCIAL RADIUM. Melbourne, February 3. An expert has examined the recent find of radium-bearing ores in South Australia, and reports that it is a commercially workable mine. The value of the material when treated is £IOO per ton, and the cost of treatment £3O per ton.

'UNIQUE MAINTENANCE CASE. Melbourne, February 3. In a unique maintenance case the court awarded a husband £2 monthly against his wife under an agreement drawn up when they separated. The wife tried to break the agreement on the ground that her husband had failed to keep his promise not to annoy her. MOUNT LYELL RETURNS. Melbourne, February 3. The Mount Lyi'll returns from December 2!) to January 25 inclusive show that 20.370 tons of ore were treated, also 10 tons purchased. Tlie ore converters produced 039 tons blister copper, containing copper 631- tons, silver 40,504 ounces, gold 909 ounces. NEW SOUTH WALES FINANCES. Sydney, February 3. At the end of January £500,000 New South "Wales Treasury bills matured, and four-fifths have already been taken up at 3% per cent. BIG NUGGETS. Sydney, February 3. Two gold nuggets of 900 and 54 ounces respectively have been found at Hargraves. THE AOTEA'S CARGO. Sydney, February 3. The Underwriters' Association has been advised that about two thousand tons of sound cargo has been salved froin the Aotea. FIRE BRIGADE UNION. Melbourne, February 3. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade, following the example of the Sydney brigade, has formed a union 'with the object of obtaining better hours and wages.