AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7938, 11 January 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

BUSH FIRES. Received January 10, 9.41 a.m. SYDNEY, January 10. Bush fires have swept half a million acres iu the Forbes district. DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN. SYDNEY, January 10. Mrs Campbell nas died at Ooolah, aged 102 years. NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. Received January 10, 9.41 a.m. SYDNEY, Jaanuary 10. The Sydney Morning Herald, in advocating representation of Australia at the New Zealand Exhibition, says*—"New Zealand is half way between Australia and America, and we make no doubt of the willingness of American manufacturers to display their achievements. We hope Now South Wales manufacturers will decide to take au important part." THE BOMB OUTRAGE. Received January 10, 10.10 a.m. MELBOURNE, Jan. 10. Mr John Wren, has supplemented the Government reward for the discovery of the perpetrator of the bomb outrage by an offer of £SOO. He also offers £IOOO if he is proven to be even indirectly connected with the affair. He characterises insinuations which might connect him as a racing man with the outrage as an open insult to his humanity. AN AUSTRALIAN ADVERTISEMENT. Received January 10,10'17 a.m. FREMANTLE, Jan. 10. Among the passengers by the Britannia is the Rev. Dr Fitohett. He declares, after a comprehensive trip through Canada, that Australia as a place for settlers is far in advance of her much-advertised rival. NEW SOUTH WALES GOLD YIELD. Received January 10, 9.14 a.m. SYDNEY, January 10. The gold yield of New South Wales last year amounted to 328,774 ounces, of the value of £1,165,000. This is the largest yield since 1899. MELBOURNE INSOLVENCIES. Received January 10, 9.51 a.m. MELBOURNE, Jan. 10. Insolvencies last year numbered 224. as compared with 217 in the previous year. The deficiencies totalled £104,000, as against £218,000 in 1904. THE WERRA FIRE. Received January 10, 9.51 a.m. • SYDNEY, January 10. The fire on the Werra has been extinguished, after gutting the lazaret and the captain's cabin, and destroying stores of the estimated value of £SOO. The cause of the outbreak is a mystery. Only two men were on board at the time. THE BUTTER COMMITTEE. Received January 10, 9.14 a.m. SYDNEY, January 10. The Butter Committee cursurily discussed the Government grading question. The preponderance of opinion was that though grading might act as a check, it would not result in obtaining higher prices iu London. It was admitted that grading as conducted by the New Zealand Government had Droved of great advantage to the industry. With reference to butter boxes, various members stated that they would be glad to use Australian timber, but experience showed that though frequently suitable, after a long period a cargo of butter was suddenly found to be badly tainted, as a result of the resinous nature of the timber. The use of an Internal envelope did not remove this defect, from which New Zealand timbers were free. FATALITY NEAR COOLGARDIE. PERTH, January 10. A fall of earth in the Bonnie Vale mine (near Coolgardie), killed three men—-MilToy, O'Brien, and Christenson. INTERESTING EVIDENCE. Received January 10, 11.48 p.m. SYDNEY, January 10. Mr Richard Teece, General Manager of the A.M.P. Society, iu giving evidence before the Old Age Pensions Commission, said that any organisation under which one section of the community enjoyed advantages at the expense of another outraged the most elementary principles of economics, and pensions were no exception to this rule. Those seeking them were not the deserving poor, but such as led unthrifty, vicious or intemperate lives. He advocated compulsory insurance. If the Federal Government would make it compulsory his Society would do the rest. There was too muoh disposition to pander to the working man. This was probably due to the conversion of trades unions into political organisations controlled by gentlemen who made a business of politics. If it were considered desirable to have pensions, those enjoying the benefits should provide at least a portion of the means of supporting them. In this connection be suggested a stamp duty on wages and a tea duty.

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