AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7968, 20 February 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PENNY POSTAGE. . Reoeived February 19, 10.2 a.m. ' SYDNEY, February 19. The Daily Telegraph, commenting on Sir Joseph Ward's advocaoy of nuiversal penny postage, says it fears that at present Australia is not in a position to be able to afford the luxury. "While Sir Joseph Ward may descant on the blessings penny postage has brought to New Zealand, hia Australian colleague to tbe Postal Conference may be found voting against the proposal. .PREFERENTIAL TRADE. Received February 19, 10.2 a.m. . SYDNEY, February 19. Sir William Lyne, Federal Minister fdr, Trade and Customs in the course or an interview, said he noticed that New Zealand was talk-' ing uf the necessity of preferential trade with the Commonwealth. He supposed this was in consequence of tbe big slioe Tasmania had cut off New Zealand's oommeroe with Australia, whioh was evidently beginning to make New Zealand think. The matter, Sir William added, had not yet come before Cabinet, so he was unabls to say whether Australia wo\ild be willing or not to enter into a preferential trade agreement with New Zealand. THE BROKEN HILL FIRE. Reoeived February 19, 10.2 a.m. SYDNEY, February 19. Steady progress is being made in stifling the fire in the Junction Mine at Broken Hill. An outbreak also oocurred in worked-out ground in the Proprietary Mine, but was confined to a blind alley-way. Prompt measures were taken to prevent the spreading of the fire, and it is now undor control. Received February 20, 12.6 a.m. SYDNEY, February 19. At the Junction Proprietary Mine, the operations are concentrated to reaching tbe seats of the fires. It is hoped to resume work in a day or two. !

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright