AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8515, 21 August 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

BRAVERY RECOGNISED. Reeeiwed August 20, 9.6 a.m. PERTH, August 20. The King has forwarded an Albert medal for presentation to Diver Hughes for rescuing Vareschetti from a flooded mine. THE FIRE ON THE FORT U NAT US. Received August 20, 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, August 20. The Fortunatus fire occurred on July 30th. The vessel was abandoned next day. The steamer Forth rescued the crew and passengers in the vicinity of the wreck. One native fireman is missing. The cargo included consignments for New Zealand ports. BIG FIRE IN SYDNEY. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE. Received August 20, 9.35 a.m. SYDNEY, August 20. A destructive fire in Sussex Street gutted the large stores of Turner and Company, genera] warehousemen; of t Dudley, tent maker; and Murray, printer; and damaged John Keep and Sons' iron store. The damage is very extensive, but no estimate has been made yet. THE ARAWATTA-INGEBORG COLLISION. Received August 20, 10 a.m. BRISBANE, August 20. At the enquiry regar-Jing the Ara-watta-Ingeborg collision. Mr McDeiMiid, second officer of the Arawatta, who was in charge of the steamer at the time of the disaster deposed that the Ingeborg came up suddenly like a cloud in front of the steamer. There was nothing to indicate her approach. He saw no lights till after the collision. He was wide awake, and the look-out was keeping a sharp watch. There was no probability of more lives being saved even if the vessels had kept together a little longer. Several members of the Arawatta's crew gave similar evidence.

(When eight miles off Port Stephen the Arawatta collided with and sank the barque Ingeborg, bound from Wellington to Newcastle. The barque sank, and six iives were lost,)

VICTORIAN PROGRESS. Received August 20, 9 a.m. MELBOURNE, August 20. The total production j'rom land, industries, mining, and manufactures in Victoria last year was £36,540,000, an increase of over 20 per centum over 1903. FEDERAL MEMBERS' SALARIES. . Received August 20, 9 a.m. SYDNEY, August 20. The president of the Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, has forwarded a protest to Sir William Lyne, Federal Treasurer, against any increase in Federal members' salaries without consulting the people. (It is proposed to raise the salaries from £4OO to £600.) Received August 20, 9.56 a.m. MELBOURNE, August 20. The Lord Mayor, by request, lias called a meeting to protest against an increase in Federal members' salaries. . ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN. Received August 21, 1.4 a.m. MELBOURNE, August 20. A deputation waited on the Chief Secretary to-day. Miss Sutherland, agent for the Neglected Children's Aid Society, stated that for the five years, ended 1906, there had been 4,591 illegitimate children under registered nurses. Out of that number 700 had died.

THE FEDERAL TARIFF. Received August 20, 9.36 a.m. SYDNEY, August 20. The Chamber of Commerce has adopted a resolution strongly protesting against the new tariff. Received August 20, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, August 20. Messrs M'Gowen and Flowers, leaders of the New South Wales Labour Party, have gone to Melbourne to consult the Federal Labour leaders with reference to the new tariff. It is stated that there is much discontent among the working classes of New South Wales at the large increase in duties, which is not unlikely to have an important effect upon the forthcoming State elections.