AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8875, 8 November 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE EMPIRE RIFLE MATCH. Received November 7, 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY, November 7. The National Rifle Association has voted £25 to the fund that is being raised to provide a trophy for the j Empire Match. MADAME MELBA. Received November 7, 10.6 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 7. Madame Melba will give several concerts before leaving Australia. THE FEDERAL TARIFF. DUTY ON CLOTHING. REFERENDUM ON THE FISCAL QUESTION. Received November 7, 10.6 a.m. SYDENY, November 7. The duty on apparel and attire of i any description has been reduced to 1 40 per cent. The preferential duty has been fixed at 35 per cent., a reduction of 5 per cent. Mr Reid urged the taking of a referendum on the fiscal question, but not on the occasion of the general election. PERTH, November 7, Exporters express strong surprise at the Federal Parliament removing the duty on chaff and hay, v which meant protection to the State faxmers against New Zealand competition. COLD WEATHER IN NEW SOUTH WALES. MANY SHEEP KILLED. Received November 7, 10.6 a.m. SYDNEY, November 7. The weather is very cold, and many sheep have boen killed by it in the Orange district. NEWCASTLE MINERS' DISPUTE. EMPLOYEES THROWN OUT OF WORK. Received November 6, 9.10 p.m. SYDNEY, November 7. In connection with the miners' demands, the colliery proprietors have prepared a statement of the wages earned at the 'principal collieries in the Newcastle and Maitland districts during the past six months. At twenty-one pits the daily wages ranged from ]os to 16s, averaging about 13s. One colliery ranged from 16s to 33s lOd. The increase of 4d in hewing rates will mean an additional 14d per day. By the closing of the Burvvood and Lambton pits over 500 men are rendered idle. HIDES MARKET. Rec:ived November 6, 9.10 p.m. MELBOURNE, November 7. Heavy hides are unchanged. Mediun and light are easier. NEW LINE OF CARGO STEAMERS. SYDNEY TO VANCOUVER MONTHLY SERVICE. Received November 8, 12.2 a.m. SYDNEY, November 7. The advent of a new line of cargo steamers from Sydney to Honolulu and Vancouver is announced. The pioneer boat will be the Den Ruthveri, which arrived from New York to-day, and sails for Vancouver on the 28th inst. The service will be monthly. According to the timetable steamers will leave Sydney and Vancouver simultaneously on the 28th of each month. They will probably call at New Zealand, but so far this has not been definitely arranged. The promoters of the new line are Messrs Barrie and Son, of Dundee.

SYDNEY WOOL SALES. CLOSED WITH SLACK BIDDING. Received November S, 1.3 a.m. SYDNEY, November 7. The week's wool sales closed with slack bidding. Prices for good sorts are at par to 5 per cent., and inferiors are fully 5 per cent, lower. A DESEPRATE REMEDY. POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S THREAT. Received November 8, 12.2 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 7. In the House the PostmasterGeneral threatened, as a means of overcoming the complaints regarding the sweating of the Postal Department, to close the post offices throughout the Commonwealth at (5 o'clock in the evening. PRODUCE MARKET. Received November 8, 12.2 a.m. SYDNEY, November 7. Holders of wheat are disinclined to take less than ss, which is above buyers' ideas. A little business was done at 4s 9d to 4s lOcl. Bran and pollard are quoted at Is to Is 2d.