AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8153, 1 June 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

COLLISION IN SYDNEY JtiAtfBOUR. A TUG BOAT SINKS. Received May 31, 3.28 p.m. SYDNEY,- May 31. The steamer Eleotra ooilided with the tug|boat Energy at North Head. The tug boat was sunk, but the crew wero saved. The Electra was considerably damaged. THE LANDS SUANDAL.

REPORT OP TOE COMMISSION.

Received May 31, 6.35 p.m. , SYDNEY. May 31.

The report of the Lands Commission has been issued. It finds that of the sums received by Peter Close, as land agent, in respect of matters then being dealt with by the Minister for Lands, Mr W. P. Crick accepted oue half, but that no officer of the Department received any money from Peter Close; that it is desirable to place the administration of the Lands Department in the hands of a Board of Commissioners, in order to free it from political influence; that land agents should be registered and placed under tne control of the Land Appeal Court. The Commission recommends that in order to supply tha demand for agricultural land all unnecessary reserves should be cancelled, and the purchasers .of private lands should as far as practicable be effected undtr the Closer Settlement Act, aud every encouragement given to the subdivision and sale of private estates by owners: the Commission also recommends the making of experiments with bore water to ascertain the best method of applying it to agriculture, and the consideration of irrigation, light railways and the conserving of water which now runs to waste, as aids to oloser settlement.

Reoeived May 31, 11.56 p.m. SYDNEY, May 31.

Tne Land Commissioners' report exonerated the Government in connection with the purohase of the Myall Greek property and considered that the State acquired it at a reasonable price. There was also nothing in she evidence to implicate Mr Oarruthers in any of the land transactions.

IRRIGATION AND WHEAT-

GROWING.

Received May 31, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 31.

Ministers to-day completed a scheme for combining irrigation and wheat-growing along the Murray frontages. Homesteads will be granted along the river front of about forty acres in extent, twenty of which will be irrigated. Each homestead will have an addition of four hundred acres of interior land. The charge for irrigation water will not exceed fifteen shillings per acre per annum.

STATE AND COMMONWEALTH.

Reoeived May 31, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE. May 31. Mr lient, the State Premier, informed Mr Deakia that he had no intention to ofaarge rent for Parliament House, bat asks 323,000 a year for the use of Government House. SUPPRESSION .OP GAMBLING. Received May 31, 10.30 a;m. MELBOURNE, May 31. A Bill for the suppression of gambling will';be introduced into the State Assembly next session. It provides that a judge, if not satisfied to thfc contrary, may issue a certificate practically putting a place where gambling has been carried on in a legal quarantine. TASMANIAN POLITICS. Received May 31, 10.30 a.m. HOBART, May 31-.

In the Assembly a motion to adjourn till June 20th was carried by 18 votes to 12.

SEQUEL TO A COLLISION

Received May 31, 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY, May 31

Writs have been issued by tbe owners of the Buninyong and Criffel in oonneotion with the reoent collision. Tbe owners of the steamer claim £7,000,,. and the owners of the barque £7,500.

"CREEP" IN A MINE.

Received May 31, 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY", May 31

A serious ''creep" has occurred in the Central Mine, Broken Hill. It is also affecting Block 10. At the Central Mine the floor of the mill has sunk three feet, throwing the plant out of gear.

THE LATE MR LANSELL. Reoeived May 31, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE. May 31. The estate of the late Mr Lanaell, the Bendigo mining magnate, has been valued for probate at £600.000. NEW ZEALAND RACEHORSES. Reoeived June 1, 1 a.m. SYDNEY, May 31. The Hon. J. D. Ormond has withdrawn all hia horses from the Derby.'Solution has been nominated for the Epsom and J: Metropolitan Handicaps, and several weight-for-age events at the A.J.C. meeting, and also for engagements at Uaulfield and Flemington.

CABLE NEWS.

By Teleg»aph—Pr«*| Association—Copyright