AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8269, 24 October 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

FEDERAL ELECTIONS. MR REID'S CAMPAIGN. A LIVELY MEETING. Received Ootober 23, 9.29 a.m. SYDNEY, October 23. Mr Reid addressed a large meeting as a counterblast to Mr Watson's recent meeting, tie bad a rowdy reception, the Socialist section keeping up a continuous interruption. INFLUENZA RAMPANT AT J3ALLARAT. THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE UNDER TREATMENT. Received October 23, 9.50 a.m. MELBOURNE, Ootober 23. Influenza is rampant at Ballarat. Thee thousand people are under treatment. THE MALE PERSONATOR. ReceivedjjOotober 23, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Ootober 23. The woman Marion Edwards, the male personator, has been committed for trial on a charge of housebreaking. A CAPTAIN ARRE&TED. Received October 23, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Ootober 23. Alexander Gardiner, master of the steamer Lord Antrim, has been arrested on a warrant charging him with unlawfully proceeding to sea when his vessel ba-i been provisionally detained by the Superintendent of Navigation in New South Wales. THE ADELAIDE CUSTOMS FRAUDS. !" FURTHER SENSATUNAL DEVELOPMENTS. TOTAL DEFICIENCY ESTIMATED AT £BO,OOO. Reoeived Ootober 23, 9.40 a.m. MELBOURNE,* October 23. Further investigations regarding the Adelaide Customs frauds have disclosed losses extending over a period of twenty years. It is computed that the total deficiency is £BO,OOO. Further sensational developments are expected. ■]

SAD BOATING DISASTER,

PIVE LIVES LOST.

Received October 23, 9.15 a.m. PERTH, Ootober 23. The Proclamation Day aud Eight Hoar Celebration was marred by a boating disaster, which resulted in the loss of five lives. A strong wind, with heavy showers, prevailed alljfday. The yacht Sadie, with a party of sixteen Snbiaoo residents on board, all belonging to the working olass, capsized in the river. Eleven managed to keep afloat till rescued. Those drowned were:— Rosy Chandler Harold Place Alfred Gunning Kay Burton Philip Whelan The details to hand are meagre. A GOOD CROP. Received Ootober 23, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Ootober 23. The orops in the Mallea district are the best on record. Farmers expect fully 50 per cent, more than last year. VICTORIAN TRADE. Keoeived October 23, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Ootober 23. A report just issued shows that the trade returns for Victoria for last year totalled £45,906,000, which is a record. The imports were valued at £22,338,000 £2,000,000; while the exports increased £500,000.

CHINESE IN THE COLONIES. VISIT OP THE PREFECT OF THE CHINESE LEGATION. CONSULATES TO BE ESTABLISHED. Keoeived Ootober 23, 3.30 a.m. BKISBaNE, October 23. Tho Prefect of the Chinese Legation in London (Mr Wanghenohen) has arrived here under instructions from Pekin to visit the cities of the Commonwealth and New Zealand and repoit upon the geueral condition of Chinese residents in Australasia. He also intends to make arrangements for the establishment of consulates, which will probably be established iu Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, aud vioeoonsulates at other places. Mr Wangbouohen said a mora important matter to investigate was the system of Government in the Commonwealth, with the object of assisting China to draw up a constitution on modern lines. The people of China were opening ttooir eyes to the necessity of reform and progross, and modern methods were gradually superseding those that had been In use for thousands of years. Modern maohiuery would soon take the place of coolie labour iu the workshop and field. In tbe schools the teaching of modern subjects was also being undertaken and mandarines were now compelled to pass examinations before they oould wear the button of office. Five commissioners had tjeen sent to different parts of the world to collect information.