AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7956, 5 February 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

MELBOURNE, February 3. The officers of the Customs Department are unab'e to account for the news reaching Canada before it was actually determined that the Australian Customs disadvantages regarding the entrainment of goods from the eastern side of the Dominion to Vancouver were tu be lifted. Only yesterday an arrange ment was sanctioned under which goods f.o.b. on the eastern border and f.o.b. at Vancouver would now be equal. CUSTOMS ARRANGEMENT. BUSH FIRES. MELBOURNE, February 3. Bush fires are still raging'in the Avooa, Toora, and Lancefleld districts. Much grass fencing and a quantity of stock have been destroyed. Inoendiarism* is suspected in some oases. LAND AND LAN/D AGENTS. SYDNEY, February 3. The Labour Conference, after a warm discussion on the land question, resolved that land agents 1 fees, be regulated and subject to taxation, and that the agents be made officers of the Court also, that members of Parliament be debarred from acting as paid agents in Crown land matters. SPLENDID RAINS. Received February 5, 12. 42 a.m. BRISBANE, February 4. Splendid rains have fallen throughout the State, and up to seven inches was recorded in places. Many rivers are flooded. THE FEDERATION. CRY OF SECESSION "ALL MOONSHINE." Received February 5, 12.42 a.m. SYDNEY, February 4. The Postmaster-General, in a speech, declared that the cry of secession was "all moonshine." Jt was unpardonable for the great journals of this State to aid and abet a few dissatisfied people. If the Union was bad the proper plan was to go to the hustings and tight the matter out.