AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 827, 29 September 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

FEDERAL ELECTIONS. THE ESTIMATES. DEFENCE POLICY. Received September 28, 10.14 a.m. MELBOURNE, Sept. 28. The Federal eleotions cannot be held before the end of November or the first week ia Deoember. The Federal House of Representatives had a continuous sitting for over 35 hours disousasing the Estimates. Mr Deakin, in explaining the Defence policy, and referring to the imperial Defence Committee's proposed eobeme, said it involved an outlay of £627,000, which, added to £835,000 proposed for the military, brought the total to £1,650,000, including £200,000 for the naval subsidy. That was altogether outside the country's means. The Government was unable to adopt the committee's full scheme, but in the immediate future would recommend the establishment of a harbour and coastal defence, not adopting the programme recommended for five or ten years. The Government would oommence with ordering four torpedo boats, and next a olass of coastal destroyers, of which it was proposed to order eight in three years. With these they would have gone a long way towards a complete harbour defence. In the next three yearj Australia ought to be able to pass from harour to coast defence, and in six or seven years the iwbole sobeoi<9 being completed, should afford an admirable defence. The estimated cost wt,a £540,000 annually. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THREATENED.

Received September 28, 10.11 a.m. * [SYDNEY, September 28. In the State Assembly, during a discussion on the Federal Land Acquisition Bill, statements were made that if the Federal Government would not respect the rights of the States the latter would take strong measures to make it. SUPPRESSION OF BETTING. Received September 28, 10.14 a.m. SYDNEY, September'2B. The Legislative Council read the Betting Bill a third time. WEST AUSTRALIAN LAND BILL. Received September 28, 10.14 a.m. PERTH, September 28. The House of Assembly has oar* ried a clause in the Land BUI limiting the area held by one person to two thousand acres. THE SOUTH AUSTKALIAN CRISIS Received September 28, 10.14 a.m ADELAIDE. September 28. The conference between the Legislative Council and House of Assembly on the Franchise Bill has proved abortive. The Council wanted to make a referendum of the electors on the question flnal, but the Government deoiined to accept it. A f ter a subsequent Cabinet meeting the Premier annuunoed that no aoticn would be taken till the Assembly met again >'on Tuesday. In the meantime a meeting of Government supporters will be held. A dissolution of the House of Assembly is considered certain. PRICE OF COM/. Received September 28, 10.30 a.m. v SYDNEY, September 28. The colliery proprietors have fixed the selling price of best Newcastle coal at ten shillings from January Ist, and for second class six shillings and sixpence, with a proportionate increase for Maitland coal. The advance means that the earnings of the Newcastle miners will be increased niuepenoe, and those Of the Maitland workers one shilling and eightpence per day. HEAVY RAINS. Received S^ p t em i )or 28, 10.30 a.m. "SYDNEY, September 28. A heavy inonsoonal rain is falling in the western distiior, and is expected to 'spread ocer the whole State. A light rain has commenced in the c'ty. Stormy oouditions ave predicted in the Tasraan Straits. MELBOURNE, Sept. 28. Further heavy rains are falling in the countiy. Floods are feared. Received Sepomber 28, 10.8 p.m. MELBOURNE, Sept. 28. The heavy rain last night again partially submerged the low lying land in the suburbs. Fears are expressed that if ttie unfavourable weather continues the Flemington Racecourse will not be sufficiently recovered from the efFeots of the late flood to be in a satisfactory condition for Cup time.

MASQUERADING As A MAN. Reoeived September 28, 10.59 p.m. BRISBANE, September 28. A woman, olad in male attire, alleged to be Marion Edwards, has been arrested on a oharge of breaking and entering at Melbourne in April last, where she was remanded on bail, bat disappeared. She bas beec masquerading in Brisbane for several weeks, acting as a barman in various hotels.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. THE COLLIERY TROUBLE. Reoeived September 28, 10.8 p.m. SYDNEY,. September 28. Trouble has again arisen in tbe Ho&Qro ind Abermain Collierieß. At tbe former colliery the men refuse to sign tbe agreement, alleging that it is not tbe old one. At Abermain tbe trouble hde been caused by tbe management refusing to allow an exemployee to resume work. The Maitland mines will oontinue idle settlement of the above disputes.