AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8351, 6 February 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

ACCIDENT TO THE MONGOLIA. Received February 5, 9.26 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 5. The Mongolia, on her trip from Sydney, struck a submerged object and broke a propeller blade. A MISSING DREDGE. Received February 5, 9.42 a.m. SYDNEY, February 5. The Kent made an unsuccessful search for the missing dredge Walrus. A DISASTROUS FIRE. Received February 5, 10.17 p.m. ADELAIDE, February 5. The largest fire that has occurred here for many years, gutted Harold Colton and Co. 's ironmongery warehouse, covering an area 70 feet by 250 feet. The stock included a consignment of cartridges, which for a time at the height of the fire kept up a hot fusilade on the buildings on the opposite side of the street, rendering the work of the firemen 'dangerous. The damage is roughly estimated at £75,000. The insurances amount to £67,300. Received February 6,' 1.16 a.m. ADELAIDE, February 5. Pellets from the exploding cartridges injured two firemen, but not seriously. Previously the firemen courageously removed 150 cases of cartridges. Two hundred pounds of gunpowder in the building are believed to be still intact. The books and papers of the firm were rescued. The falling walls seriously damaged the telephone lines. The firemen by great efforts prevented the spreading of "the fire to adjoining premises, though Barker Chamber's warehouse was considerably scorched and flooded. PLAGUE IN SYDNEY. Received February 5, 10.15 p.m. SYDNEY, February 5. The area where plague rats are found in the city is steadily extending. The health authorities declare that unless the people can be galvanised into some general action serious consequences are probable. THE ADELAIDE CUSTOMS CASES. Received February 5, 9.42 a. m. ADELAIDE, February 5. Tucker and Forwood, who have been implicated in the alleged Customs frauds, have made statements denying the charges. Tucker declares that anything done to rob the Customs was done without his knowledge. Forwood denied that there was any agreement with Tucker to rob the Customs. A LONG DRIFT. Received February 5, 9.42^a.m. MELBOURNE, Feoruary 5. A bottle thrown from the Antarctic ship Discovery in December, 1903, has been washed ashore in the vicinity of Cape Schanck, in Bass' Strait, bietween Port Phillip and Western Port, Victoria. WOOL SALES. Received February 5, 9.42 a.m. SYDNEY, February 5. At the wool sales, competition for all good conditioned sorts is keen at last week's rates. Greasy sold up to 13Jd.

DISAPPOINTED AUSTRALIANS. Received February 5, 9.42 a.m. SYDNEY, February 5. > The steamer Kent brought 35 disappointed Australians from South Africa, a number of them being penniless. They give direful accounts of the labour conditions in Africa. SIR JOSEPH WARD INTERVIEWED. Received February 5, 9.26 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 5. Sir Joseph Ward conferred with Sir William Lyne, Minister of Trade and Customs. In the course of an interview, Sir Joseph Ward said: "Regarding the formation of a Council of Advice, we have Americans and Germans right under our lee—a positive menace to us, and the British Government lets them take all the best harbours in 1 Samoa and control the South Pacific. It is a matter of vital importance both to New Zealand and Australia. But the British Government does not see this, because it is ignorant of the interests involved. "With a Council of Advice in existence we could prevent any further blunders being made at our very doors. The council would be useful in regard to protecting our rights to exclude aliens when treaties are being made. The council could keep our views before the Government of the day. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Premier of Canada, in private letters to me, also expresses himself in favour of such a council, and with the help of Mr Beakin, the three of us ought to be able to carry it through."