AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7971, 23 February 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A VIOLENT PRISONER. TEN YEARS FOR BURGLARY. Received February 22, 9.41 a.m. ADELAIDE, February 22. George Brown, who was arrested in January lltb, under sensational circumstances, has been sentenced to ten years' imprisonment on a charge of burglary. Prisoner pretended insanity, and behaved with great violence in the dock. It took several constables and warders to overpower him. On hearing the sentence Brown threatened to blow out the brains pf the Judge wheu he regained his liberty. THE LANDS COMMISSION. SYDNEY, February 22. Before the Lauds Commission evidence was given of the payment of further large commissions tc W. N. Willis. HEAT WAVE. MELBOURNE, February 22. A heat wave is passing over the State. The thermometer registered lOOdeg. in Melbourne, and llldeg. at Mildura. NEW SOUTH WALES AFFECTED. Received February 22, 12.55 a.m. SYDNEY, February 22. The heat wave is affecting New South Wales. The thermometer registered over 97 degrees in Sydney. High registers are recorded in the country. BUSH FIRE. Received February 23, 12.55 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 22. A bush fire destroyed the Church of England, at Clyde, and was with great difficulty prevented from sweeping away the township. DISASTROUS FIRES. Received February 23, 1.8 a.m. SYDNEY, February 22. Munro's wood turning works, at Redfern, have been destroyed by fire. The damage is estimated at £2,000. Mackenzie's timber yards, at Pyrmont, are ablaze, and the fire is spreading rapidly and threatens to be an extensive fire. Large quantities of timber are stacked in the yards. I "THE FEDEKATED OPPOSI- - TION." Received February 22, 9.41 a,m. SYDNEY, Februray 22. The Right Hon. G. Reid states that the Federated Opposition is 'united in its determination to fight Labour and Socialism at the next elections. RECIPROCAL TRADE WITH NEW ZEALAND. Received February 22, 9.41 a.m. SYDNEY, February 22. The Sydney Morning Herald, after reviewing the trade between the Commonwealth and New Zealand, says:—"The figures noint to the fact that if we are to adhere,to the reciprocity on strict Protectionist lines advocated by Sir Joseph Ward, there are but few lines New Zealand can grant us preference upon wherein we oould not compete with or without, preference, and still fewer upon whioh we could grant New Zealand preference." SIR J. G. WARD. Received February 22, 9.47 p.m. ADELAIDE, February 22. Sir J. U. Ward was welcomed to South Australia by the Mayor of Adelaide at a gathering in the Town Hall. The Mayor expressed the ( hope that reciprocity between New , Zealand and South Australia would soon be an accomplished fact. He wished Sir J. G. Ward all suooess in his mission to Rome. The Premier also welcomed Sir J. G Ward, and said that South Australia was friendly with New . Zealand. He, too, wished Sir J. G. Ward suocess. Sir Joseph Ward, in replying, said that be was sorry that the treaty for reciprocity, signed by Mr Kingston and himself in 1895, had not been agreed to by South gAustralia. New Zealand was willing to renew the negotiations with the Commonwealth. Tne development of trade with the colonies was an all important matter Regarding New Zealand's attitude in connection'■ with the British Navy, he declared New Zealand was not favourable to having a separate navy. New Zealand bad the kindest feeling for Australia. The meetings of public men were of immenso importance.