AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 83, 24 August 1912, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SYDNEY GOVERNMENT HOUSE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, August 23. It is understood that the Government 'has received from Mr. Fisher a reply favorable to the demand that the Federal authorities will pay 3y 3 per cent, on the capitalised value of the Government House property during the remainder of Lord Denman's term of office. The house will afterwards revert to the State for use for public purposes, unless other arrangements are I made. ,

THE COST OF LIVING. Sydney, August 23. The Labor Council discussed a motion to the effect that in view of the exorbitant prices of meat, wheat, potatoes and butter, the import duties on such comI modifies should be at once removed. The mover suggested the temporary removal of the import duties on New Zealand meat and butter, and another delegate suggested the opening of the market to New Zealand goods, so as to bring x..em into competition and break up the ' trusts ALLEGED MUTTON CORNER. Sydney, August 23. As the result of an enquiry into the j report that a corner in mutton existed ; in Sydney, Mr. McGowen has stated i that there is no foundation whatever for I the statement.

FIRE IN A MINE. Sydney, August 23. There lias been an outbreak of fire in a portion of the Newcastle-Wallsend col-. j liery workings. The area involved is (small, and has been walled off, so that other portions of the mine are not afl fected. » BROKEN HILL MTNE. Melbourne, August 23. The half-yearly report of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company will be presented on August 30. It shows a net profit of £186,883. The output of silver was 2,107,800 ounces, and of lead 41,80(1 tons. SYDNEY GAS COMPANY.

Sydney, August 23. A Stock Exchange deputation interviewed Mr. Carmichael on the Gas Bill. The press was not admitted. Mr. Carmichael, in a subsequent statement, said 'the deputation agreed to the principle of the Bill and to most of its provisions, \ but considered the interests, of investors c should be conserved. He suggested that the assets of the company should be capitalised and a dividend of 5 per cent, on the total be paid. He informed them that he was not prepared to crystalise the large profit the company had made m past years, which .should have gone to the general public in the direction of a reduction in the price of gas. into' dividend paving capital. HOIST WITH HER OWN PETARD.

Sydney, August 23. The French labor schooner Nobongii was lying off Pentecost Island', New Hebrides, and a-charge of'dynamite was prepared to attract the natives and dropped alongside, but it knocked a hole in the bottom of the vessel, which sank, and the crew had' a narrow escape. RAINS IN WEST AUSTRALIA. Adelaide, August 23. Serviceable rains are falling, and the wheat areas have much benefited. 'LABOR LEADER'S ILLNESS. Brisbane, August 23. After participating in a division in the Assembly, Mr. Bowman, Leader of the Opposition, was seized with sudden illness and removed to a private hospital in an unconscious condition. His condition is serious. He is believed to be suffering from a paralytic stroke. Later. The Premier stated that Mr. Bowman was much better, and that there was no cause for alarm.