AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8307, 10 December 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE IRISH ENVOY. HOBART, Deoember 8. Mr J. Devlin, M.P., one of the Irish delegates, left here by the Monowai, yesterday, on a visit to New Zealand. FEDERAL OFFICERS AND STATE TAXES. MELBOURNE, Dec. 8. In connection with the Privy Council's decision on the Commissioner of Taxes' appeal, the great point on which the Commonwealth is interested is not the payability or otherwise of the Income Tax, but the finality or otherwise of a judgment of the High Court in consti. tutional oases. The result is that the finality of the High Court i« seriously affected by the Privy Council's judgment. The amount involved under the decision is not known. (The Privy Council decided that the offloera of the Federal Government are liable for State luoome Tax.)

THE PERTH INSURANCE WAR.

A CONCESSION REPUDIATED.

PERTH, Deoember 8,

In effecting a Government Insurance of a million and a half the Westrallau manager of tbe Royal Insurance Company waived the light of cancelling the policy for three yeais. Ibis agreement has been repudiated by the directors of tbe company. LICENSING LEGISLATION. TUB COMPENSATION QUESTION MELBOURNE, December 8. Id the ViotorinD Assembly Mr Bent further modified the Government's proposals Id the Lioensing Bill for oontinuance of compensation after the ten years* period, abandoning all time limit.

INTENSE HEAT. SYDNEY, Deoember 8. There is great heat in the interior, at. many stations the thermometer registering 100 to 108 degrees in the shade. The last-named figure is reported from Mogil Mogil, 490 miles went of Sydney, and constitutes a record for the district. ADELAIDE, Deoember 8. Tbe weather is very hoi. A hundred and three degrees in the shade has been registered. i ACTIVITY AT BROKEN HILL. SYDNEY, Deoember 8. Muoh activity prevails at the Broken Hill mines. Eight thousand four hundred and fifty men -are employed, aad the mineral output for the year is valued at over two millions. RECOGNITION OF BRAVERY. ADELAIDE, Deoember 8. At a meeting in the Port Adelaide Town Hall, the Mayor presented Yvetot and Ganguee, two seamen who risked their lives to take lines ashorelfrom the French barque Montebello, wrecked at Kangaroo Island, eaoh with a silver watob, gold albert, and modal, in recognition of their bravery. (Ihe Montebello struck on the rooks at 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, November 18th, daring a strong southerly gale, with heavy raiu. Shortly afterwards the main masc went overboard. The crew remained huddled on deoK, heavy seas continually breaking over the ship, till daylight, when they discovered tbey were not more than a hundred and fifty yards from the land, close up against the cliffs. A sailor (probably Ganguee) attempted to take a line ashore, but a heavy sea drove him back. Another seaman named Yvetot then volunteeroa. The first time he failed, but on making i a seoond attempt a wave washed him on the rooks. He was bruised, and his clothes were torn into shreds. A stout line was got ashore, a breeohes-' buoy was rigged by means of an empty cask, and by 7 o'ulouk all hands had landed pafely. The crew sutfeied severe hardships on the island before relief reached ihem).

THE BETTING BILL. SYDNEY, December 8. The State Assembly i« considering an amendment to the Betting Bill, placing trottiop on the same footing aa horse racing. MR ORIUK AND THE ASSEMBLY. SYDNEY, December 8. The Government will make known the oouraa it intends to pursue in regard 'o Mr Crick when the Land Commissioner's report aomos up for consideration in the House. It is rumoured that drastic measures are intended.