AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8872, 5 November 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE NEW MAIL CONTRACT. IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS LIKELY. Received November 4, 9.34 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 4. Important developments are'likely to result in the event of the Orient Company securing the mail contract. It is stated that the company, in order to identify its enterprise more closely with Australia, contemplates raising the money needed to build the new steamers required under the contract in Australia. The company also proposes that a local board of directors should be appointed to manage the business. A DESTRUCTIVE STORM. BUILDINGS UNROOFED. Received November 4, 9.34 a.m. ADELAIDE, November 4. A destrucive storm was experienced at Moonta. Most of the houses in the township were unroofed. The Government railway shops were demolished. REIMPORTATION OF WHEAT. A CONCESSION. Received November 4, 9.34 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 4. The Customs authorities decided that in the event of the reimportation of wheat, which has npt left the vessels or changed hands, it will be admitted free. /SHACKLETON ANTARTIC EXPEDITION. Received November 4, 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, November 4. Mr Reid. manager of the Shackleton Antractic expedition, states that the equipment is a great advance on that of previous expeditions. AN EXPRESS TRAIN DERAILED. NONE OF THE PASSENGERS INJURED. Received November 4, 9.20 a.m. SYDNEY, November 4. The North-western mail train, with a hundred passengers aboard was derailed at Breeza. None of the passengers were injured. Considerable damage was dene to the rolling stock. (Breeza is a small town 269 miles north of Sydney). THE FEDERAL REVENUE. AN INCREASE. Received November 4, 9.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 4. The Federal revenue for the September quarter increased by£4sS,ooo. The amount returned to the States increased by £304,000, us compared with the previous September. AN OUTBREAK OF ANTHRAX. Received November 4, 9 a.m. SYDNEY, November 4. The Government Veterinarian reports that the death of cattle last week was due to anthrax. : (Out of a mob of 635 cattle traveling from Walcha (350 miles north of Sydney) 585 died in one night.) EXTENSIVE RAINFALL. Received November 4, 9.17 a.m. SYDNEY, November 4. There have been some heavy falls in the North-western districts. Rain has extended inland. BREAK UP OF DROUGHT. SOAKING RAINS STILL WANTED. Received November 4, 10.10 p.m. SYDNEY, November 4. The rain has cleared. The whole of the State participated except the extreme north-west. The heaviest fall was on the western slopes, and the tablelands, the falls ranging up to three and a-half inches. In the Hunter Valley over two inches fell, and on the south coast the fall was over an inch. The drought has broken, though more rain is wanted to thoroughly soak the ground. IMPROVED PROSPECTS. Received November 4, 10.10 p.m. MELBOURNE, November 4. The rain has greatly improved the crops and dairy prospects. NEWCASTLE COLLIERY TROUBLES. REFUSAL OF CONCESSIONS. Received November 4, 10.10 p.m. ' SYDNEY, November 4. The Northern Miners Committee of Management discussed the owners' refusal to grant certain concessions, and decided to seek the assistance of the southern and western districts miners before deciding on a definite: course of action.

CABLE NEWS.

Copvriht. *'■•'.

WOOL MARKET. Received November 5, 12.37 a.m. SYDNEY, November 4. Wool is slightly easier in tendency without a quotable change in good sorts. Inferior sorts are decidedly easier. TAINTED BUTTER BOXES. IS NEW ZEALAND WHITE PINE AT FAULT? Received November 5, 12.37 p.m. SYDNEY, November ti The Daily Telegraph says that for the first time for many years the trouble recently experienced in connection with the use of tainted butter boxes has made its appearance in New Zealand white pine. How the tainted boxes got into use cannot be ascertained. There is an indication of either carelessness on the part of the box-makei's or that supplies of first-class pine are running out. The boxes develop a strong smoky scent which permeates and ruins the flavour of the butter. Some butter is so affected that it is not useable, not even for pastry purposes. The difficulty is aggravated in cases where factories obtained their boxes from Sydney in shooks. Packed in this way the timber sweats and the objectionable taint is intensified. SLUMP IN PRODUCE. BENEFICIAL' EFFECTS OF RAINFALL. Received November 5, 12.37 a.m. SYDNEY, November 4. The rain has caused a slump in the produce market?, and nearly all lines are easier. The chief falls are in wheat, which is now quoted at from 5s 6d to 5s 9d per bushel, bran and pollard Is 2d and Is 4d, and maize 4s.