AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1916, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

FEDERAL STATISTICS. By Cable.—Press Association—Copyright Melbourne, January 5. The Federal Customs revenue for the last six months was £7,909,983, an increase of £358,381. The Post Office revenue shows an increase of £131,221. Old-age pensioners at the end of the year totalled 91,904, and invalid pensioners 21,757. The war pensions so far granted carry an annual liability of £1)0,170. The Federal note issue is £41,700,122, against which the Treasury holds gold tc the value of £14,905,317. GROWTH OF SYDNEY. Sydney, January 5. Last year 7002 new buildings were completed in the metropolitan area, costing £5,124,000, compared with 10,546 buildings, costing £6,775,000 in the previous year. MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS. Sydney, January 0. The Minister of Education has approved of the establishment of thirtyone State scholarships in connection with the Conservatorium of Music. SYDNEY'S LORD MAYOR. Sydney, January 6. Cabinet has decided to appoint Mr. Meagher Lord Mayor of Sydney. SEIZED WHEAT. Sydney, January 6. i As a result of appeal for extra compensation for seized wheat the Commodities Commission has recommended payment of an additional threepence per bushel. ANOTHER TRAGEDY. Sydney, January 0. A tragedy is reported from Glebe. Frank Gray, who has been living apart from his wife, accosted her in the street and asked her to return to him. She refused, but continued conversing a little time, when without warning Gray drew a revolver and fired three times, seriously wounding his wife, and finally committed suicide.

REVENUE. Hobart, January 6. The half-yearly revenue was £026,61)0, an increase of £28,304. A FEDERAL LABORATORY. Melbourne, January 6. Mr. Hughes presided at a conference to consider a Federal laboratory. He pointed out that it was necessary to train the nation in scientific thought from the primary schools, so that scientific methods would permeate the whole national life. The laboratory was simply the centre of a wide movement. A strong committee was appointed to formulate a working scheme. AUSTRALIAN COLLIERIES. Sydney, January 5. The whole of the south coast collieries are idle, with the object of enforcing the demand for the extension of the eight-hour day and bank-to-bank clause, now enjoyed by miners only, to the whole of the colilery employees. Several thousand men are affected. A mass meeting of the men was disorderly and broke up reaultless. Already the suspension is causing inconvenience to transports and other vessels in obtaining bunkering coal. Some of the coke works have closed and there are feai-s of the possibility of the trouble spreading to other coalfields. The majority of the coalmines in the South Maitland district are idle, owing to the wheelers demanding a higher increase jf wages than the 7y 2 per cent, awarded under the new agreement. Two thousand are idle. EXIT THE HORSE. Melbourne, January 0. Mr. Webster stated that the Postal Department would bo forced to discard horses for motors for mail services in order to maintain the efficiency. Tt would increase the cost 300 per cent., but it. is suggested that the Government can overcome the increased expenditure by establishing its own motor services for carrying mails and passengers.