AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7969, 21 February 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

TOBACCO MONOFOLY COMMISSION. Received February 20, 11.15 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 20. The Tobacco Monopoly Oouamissiuu has, it is understood, decided by four to one, to recommend the nationalisation of tho industry. It is considered that the State could make an enormous revenue out of 'the monopoly.' The Commission has come to the couolubiou that a strong "combine" is in existence detrimental to both consumers and producers. ! SIR JOSWPH WARD. | Received February 20, 9.19 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 20. Sir Joseph Ward, PostmasterGeneral, has had a long interview wiih Mr Deakin, Federal Premier, on the questions of tbe Vancouver and San Francisco mail services and reciprocal trade relations between Australia and New' Zealand. LOCAL Of TION POLLS. Received February 20 s 9.19 a.rri. ADELAIDE, February 20. Local option polls in the six city and suburban districts resulted in substantial temperance victories in five, *the Adelaide district alone not favouring a reduction of licenses. TWO SEAMEN INJURED. Received February 20, 9.45 a. in. SYDNEY. February 19. As the barquentiue River Hunter was being towed out of the harbour to-day en route for New Zealand tbe towing tackle gave way and the block struck and injured two seamen named Everett and Wilson. Ibe former was knocked overboard but was pluokily resoued by the mate,"named Standed. A VIOLENT STORM. SYDNEY February 19. A violent storm was experienced at Armidale. Over two inches of rain fell in an hour Tbe streets and many buildings were flooded. Several buildings wero struck by lightning and a numrer were un roofed, and otherwise damaged by wind. W. N. WILLIS. SYDNEY, February 19. In connection with the hearing of an appeal against an order by the Chief Justice in Equity that the evidence of W. N. Willis ' (charged With conspiracy) should be taken on ' commission in South Africa, affidavits which have been led include Que by Mrs Willis, declaring that her husbiind was engaged in South Africa selling horses sent from Sydney, and' did not intend to return. Received February 20, 10.39 p.m. SYDNEY, February 20. The Full Court allowed tbe appeal against the order of the Chief Judge in Equity, under which the evidence of Willis was to have been taken on commission in South Africa, in con* neotion with the alleged land "dummying" case. The hearing of the case has been postponed for two months, so as to give Willis an opportunity of being present, if he desired. For the plaintffs case, it is alleged \ that Willis, while acting as his own | agent, seoured 17,000 acres for his own benefit by means of "dummyisui," and subsequently transferred them to Mrs Willis by means-of a fictitious mortgage. HOT WEATHER. Received February 20, 10.45 p.m. * SYDNEY, February 20. From December 19th to January 25th, the thermometer at Bourko was only on seven oooasions below 300. The lowest reading was 93. The balance of the period ranged from 100 to 120. . , I A CONDITIONAL SUBSIDY. Received February 20, 10.45 p.m. BRISBANE, February 20. The merchants have arranged to pay Mr Jones, the Government agent in the East, a pound for every pound of Government salary he receives. THE AUSTRALIAN. Received February 20, 10.47 p.m. BRISBANE, February 20. At the preliminary enquiry in connection with the stranding of the steamer Australian, Captain MoArthur was exonerated from all blame. The mishap was attributed to the abnormal currents in Princess Charlotte Bay. • NE'VMARKET HANDICAP. Received Fobruarr 21, 1.8 a.m. SYDNEY;, February 20. Pompous is a strong favourite, at 6 to 1, for the Newmarket Handicap, both in Sydney and Melbourne. BROKEN Rllih MINE FIRE. i Received February 21, 1.8 a. in. SYDNEY, February 20. Work has been resumed in the. Proprietary Mine, excepting ,the area affected by fire.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright,

POPULATION RETURNS. Received February 21, 1.8 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 20. Population returns show the total number of arrivals in the Commonwealth lust year to have been 48,636,. aud the departures 46,624. Ttie arrivals of Uritish origin numberod 39,808, aud the departures 36,068. The coloured arrivals totalled 3,401. aad the departures 5,637. ji ,