AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8558, 17 October 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

WESTRALIAN BUDGET. Received October 16,10.20 a.m. PERTH, OctDber 16. The Treasurer delivered his Budget. He estimated that at the year-end there would be a deficit of £77,552. This did not include the land and income tax, which, if passed, would yield £BI,OOO. Notwithstanding complaints of depression, the imports and exports had totalled £16,653,000, an average of £64 per head, against £49 per head for the whole Commonwealth. PRICE OF BREAD IN MELBOURNE. Received October 16, 9.38 a.m. MELBOURNE, October 16. The price for the four-pound loaf has been raised to 7d. NEW ZEALAND INSURANCE COMPANY. Received October 16, 9.38 a.m. BRISBANE, October 16. The New Zealand Insurance Company has purchased a 60ft block in Queen Street at the rate of £250 per foot, and intends to erect offices. LATE GEORGE ADAMS' WILL. Received October 16, 9.38 a.m. SYDNEY, October 16. The court decided that the charitable bequests under the late George Adams' will are void, owing to the uncertainly of the intentions. The Dequests to the sweep employees were upheld. Arguments concerning other matters arising out of the will are unfinished. A FRUITGROWERS' CONFERENCE. Received October 16, 10.20 a.m. ADELAIDE, October 16. The Fruitgrowers' Federal Conference has adopted a resolution in favour of facilitating as far as possible the importation of clean fruit from other States. Mr T. W. Kirk, of the New Zealand Agricultural Department, detailed the steps New Zealand was taking to combat the fruit fly, and said that at the present time the Dominion was importing more fruit maggots from the South Seas than from Australia. New Zealand might be relied on to take any steps absolutely necessary for the protection of its interests. SYDNEY MINING MARKET. ALMOST A PANIC. Received October 16, 9.33' a.m. . SYDNEY, October 16. The feeling of weakness which marked the mining market some time ago reached almost a panic yeslerday. The stocks of nineteen copper, tin, silver and lead companies have declined in value between five and six thousand pounds (?) on the day. RUMOURED RETIREMENT OF MR WATSON. Received October 16, 9.38 a.m. MELBOURNE, October 16. There are rumours to the effect that Mr Watson, Leader of the Federal Labour Party, intends to retire from politics.