AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8276, 1 November 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE GAMBLING BILL. Reoeived Ootober 31, 9.37 a.m. MELBOURNE, Ootober 31. The Gambling Bill is making very slow progress in the Assembly. Practically it has no chance of passing before Cup Day. A PERIOD Of GREAT PROSPERITY. Reoeived October 31, 6.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Ootober 31. At the half-yearly meeting nf the Colonial Bank of Australasia, the Chairman said it was proposed to increase the dividend from five to six per cent, on both preference and ordinary shares. Victoria, he said, was enjoying a period of great prosperity. The Banks showed an inorease of over six millions of deposits during the last three years. If accumulation went on at that rate investors would hr.ve to be satisfied with a lower rate of interest in the future. THE MISSING DREDGE WALRUS. Received Ootober 31, 9.37 a.m. MELBOURNE, October 31. No warship being available the Government has asked the Westralian Government to despatch a steamer to searoh for the dredge Walrus, which is overdue from Durban and is now out seventy-nine days. She carried provisions for sixty days only, and her crew num ber twenty-three, inoludiag several Victorians. A searoh steamer will leave Parth to-morrow morning. Hon. A. Deakin, Federal Premier, has also communicated with the authorities in South Africa on the matter. (The Walrus was one of two dreages purohased by the Geelong Harbour Board from the Natal Government for £B,OOO each. The Walrus left Durban for Geeloag on August 13th, and hits not been heard of since. The Octopus, whioh had to be refitted at an exira cost of £2,000, left Durban on Ootober 10th, and four days later sprang a leak and sank off the Tugela. the captain's wife and two children being drowned). COLONIAL SUGAR COMPANY.

Received October 31, 11.40 p.m. SYDNEY, October 31. At £ meeting of the Colonial Sugar Company the nett profits for the half-year were reported to be £111,674. A dividend of 5 per cent, for the half-year was declared. The report showed that the Fiji crop was expected to be much below the average, and the Australian crop above expectations. The Chairman stated that the sugar production would be practically sufficient for Australian consumption. As a result of the abolition of the South African* differential duties the company hoped to ob'iain a fair share of the sugar trade of those colonies. The withdrawal of the New Zealand reciprocity treaty did not affeoG the present position of the company. Had the treaty'teen adopted as proposed they would have derived an advantage by sending sugar to Auckland and bringing Fiji sugar to Sydney, but the agreement was too one sided to be a lasting one.

' LAWN TENNIS,

A NEW ZBALANDBR'S SUCCESS. Reoeived November 1, 1.5 a.m. PERTH, October 31. The Lawn Tennis Championship of West Australia was won by Parker, of New Zealand, who defeated Doust, of New South Wales. SHIPPING. Received November 1, 1.5 a.m. 'SYDNEY, Ootober 31. Arrived, at 9 o'clock to-night— Waikare. Sailed, at 2 o'clock—Victoria. MELBOUKNE, Ootober 31. Sailed—Moeraki. ADELAIDE,'October 31. Arrived —Dorset, from Liverpool.

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION

THE NEW SOUTH WALES COURT. A FINE DISPLAY. Received November 1, 1.5 a.m. SYDNEY, October 31. One of thn New Sontb Wales representatives at the New Zealand Exhibition writes stating that the New South Wales oourt will bo one of the beat— oemainly finer than the oourt of any other Australian State. MELBOURNE WOOL SALES. MERINOS VERY FIRM. FINE GROSS I3REDS DISTINCTLY DEARER. Received November 1, 1.5 a.m. MELBOURNE, Ootoher 31. Wool is exceedingly brisk. Fine merinos are very Arm at late rates. Fine crosabreds are distinctly deaier. Greasy is quoted np to 14d,"and scoured 22% d. j