AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8353, 9 February 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICE. Received February 8, 9.43 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 8. Mr A. Chapman, PostmasterGenei'al, says Brisbane has never valued the Vancouver service, while New Zealand was greatly interested in it. He added that if a continuation is arranged, Brisbane may be left out and the steamers will probably call at New Zealand.

FIRE IN A DISTILLERY. Received February 8, 9.48 a.m. BUNDABERG, February 8. A fire has started in the old Bond distillery. No water is available, and the fire was still burning fiercely this morning. The old and the new bonds adjoining contain 150,000 gallons of rum. Both places appear to be doomed. Received February 9, 1.31 a.m. BUNDABERG, February 8. The old bond, a large quantity of valuable machinery, and the still were destroyed. The new bond was saved. The damage is very heavy, but there is no estimate. A CAPTAIN FINED. Received February 8, 9.48 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 8. The master of the steamer Indraveli has been fined £3OO for allowing three Chinese to enter the Commonwealth. MARINE ENQUIRY.

Received -February 8, 9.48 a.m. LAUNCESTON, February'B. At an enquiry into the condition of the missing Centennial, evidence was given that she was properly overhauled and equipped for her voyagetto New Zealand. THE CRICKET TROUBLE. Received February 8, 10.49 p.m. SYDNEY, February 8. M. A. Noble has written Cricket Association declining to apply for the removal of the disqualification passed on him. He says he is disinclined to be further misrepresented or to be made the target for studied humiliation. He thinks it high time that the Association showed some spontaneous consideration. COMMERCIAL BANK. Received February 8, 10.49 p.m. MELBOURNE, February 8. At a meeting of the/Commercial Bank of Australia, the Chairman said that the balance sheet showed an advancement all along the line. A portion of the assets of the old bank had been sold for over £24,000 above their valuation. He believed the remaining properties would fully realise their valuation. During five years deferred liabilities amounting to £1,253,000 had been discharged. :\ A STARTLING STATEMENT. Received February 9, 12.56 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 8. Several Federal members, who recently arrived from Brisbane, state that there is a strong feeling in Queensland that the Chinese are entering Australia at some point of the coast without complying with the Immigration Act. Mr Ransford, a Melbourne barrister, says that some time ago, when en route to the Solomon Islands, he met Mr Brotherton, formerly a well-known resident of Melbourne. The latter informed him that about fifteen months ago he took at trip across the Cape York Peninsula to Princess Charlotte Bay. Mr Brotherton believed that whites had never before traversed that portion of the country, but he found the banks of the river peopled with thousands of Chinese, who were growing sufficient opium to supply not only Australia but probably the whole of China. He thought they came from Java in Malay proas, and that their produce no doubt was distributed by a Chinese agent at Cairns. . • '