AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8980, 14 November 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

NEWCASTLE MINERS' TROUBLE. TRADE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED. STIFF ADVANCES IN PRICE OF COAL ANTICIPATED. Received November 13, 8.30 a.m. SYDNEY} November 13. A mass meeting of miners will be .held, to-day, to oiscuss the trouble. The proprietors of the mines will meet on Thursday. The trouble is already having a disastrous effect on Newcastle trade. The harbour is full of vessels waiting for cargoes. As no coal is available, steamers are returning to Sydney and the South Coast ports to obrain coal. In view of the situation, some Sydney coal merchants are refusing to fill orders. A stiff advance in the price of coal is anticipated.

EFFORTS TO EFFECT A SETTLEMENT. MEN ADHERE TO THEIR DEMANDS. PROPRIETORS FIRM. Received November 13, 9.25 a.m. SYDNEY, November 13. All hope of effecting an amicable settlement of the mining difficulty seems, for the present at any rate, to have vanished, and a general strike commences to-day, when it is expected that all the mines in the Norths™ District will be idle. The mines which resumed yesterday did so under the impression that by working for three days, all wages, amounting to £25,000, would be paid. A further effort will be made to reach a settlement. The member for the district is endeavouring to formulate proposals and have the questions in dispute submitted to the Premier, who, it is understood, is willing to act as medistjr or arbitrator. The miners' committee of management will meet to-day to discuss the situation. About 8.000 mine employees would be rendered idla by a general strike. The men declare their determination not to recede from their demands. The proprietors show no signs of weakening, and are strongly opposed to making further concessions. They are prepared to await developments. A STRIKE FAVOURED. Received November 13, 3.13 p.m. SYDNEY, November 13 A mass meeting of miners at Newcastle was held to-day to discuss matters in connection with the dispute with the colliery owners. A resolution was carried endorsing a strike. Practically all the mines in the Newcastle and Maitland districts are idle.

FIRE ON THE INDRAMAYO. EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. Received November 13, 10.35 a.m. SYDNEY, November 13. Particulars in connection with the fire on the Indramayo show that 500 tons of cargo was damaged by water. A general average contribution of 2£ per cent, is being collected. (A fire broke out on the steamer Indramayo, bound from New York to Fremantle, on October 17th in a small aftei -hold, containing fifty tons of cargo. In the next hold, separated by a steel partition, there were twenty thousand cases of turpentine stowed. By strenuous efforts the small hold was filled with water and the fire extinguished, though the contents were destroyed). FEDERAL MAIL CONTRACT. COMPROMISE ARRIVED AT. Received November 13, 10.35 a.m. MELBOURNE,. November 13. It is understood that a compromise has been reached with the Orient Company in regard to the mail contract'which will probably be signed to-morrow. THE FEDERAL TARIFF. SUGGESTED REFERENDUM. . DUTY ON PIECE GOODS. Received November 13, 10 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 13. It is understood that the Labour Party committee has recommended that a clause be inserted in the Customs Tariff Bill next year, providing for a referendum on the amended tariff. The House has fixed the duty on woollen piece goods at 30 per cent., and preferential duty 25 per cent.; on silk and velvet goods, 20 per cent., and preferential duty 15 per cent.

MURDER OF BERNHARD BAUER. CORONER JURY'S -VERDICT. Received November 13, 10.19 a.m. MELBOUKNE, November 13. At the adjourned inquest touching the death of Bemhard Bauer, a wellknown diamond merchant, who was murdered in his office in June 7th, it was stated that the diamonds stolen at the time of the murder were valued at £3,000. The detectives have no clue to the murder. A verdict of ''wilful murder against some person unknown" was returned.. SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. Received November 14, 1.6 a.m. SYDNEY, November 13. R. Tressider has covered Webb's last deposit for the sculling match.