AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8981, 15 November 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

MOUNT LYELL COMPANY. Received November 15, 9.25 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 15. The Mount Lyell Company has declared a dividend of Is 3d and a bonus of 9d per share payable on December 16th. THE TOTALISATOR. LEGISLATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Received November 14, 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, November 14. The Assembly read a first time a Bill to legalise the totalisator. LABOUR LEGISLATION. Received November 14, 9.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 14. A conference of trades unions appointed a committee to watch factories legislation. It was resolved that the time has arrived when the whole of the industrial legislation should be taken over by the Commonwealth Parliament.

CONTROL OF WESTERN PACIFIC. RESOLUTION BY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Received November 14. 9.25 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 14. The Foreign Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church adopted a resolution protesting against the statement made by the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific that the missionaries resented the lay government of the Islands, and apparently were anxious to control the Islands themselves. SUNSHINE HARVESTER WORKSi CLOSED DOWN. Received November 14, 9 30 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 15. As a result of the recent Arbitration Court decision the Sunsnine Harvester Works have been closed. Mr McKay is considering the position. Over 500 hands have been rendered idh. (The Arbitration Court refused the application of Hugh Victor McKay, of the Sunshine works of the Harvester Company, for exemption from excise duties on harvesters under the Excise Tariff Act of 1906. Mr Justice Higgins failed to find that McKay had paid fair and reasonable wages as required under the Act.) LOOKING FOR LAND.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. Received November 14, 9.40 a.m. PERTH, November 14. A number of New Zealanders are visiting Western Australia. They are ; nspecting land wi f ,h a view to settling. IRON BONUS BILL. LABOUR PARTY;S VIEWS. Received November 14, 8.40 a.m. MELBuURNE, November 14. ithe Federal Treasurer, Sir William Lyne, has introchced an Iron Bonus Bill, under which a total of £304,000 is apportioned as bonuses - £250,000 for iron and steel, at the rate of 12s per ton; £50,000 for wire netting and pipes, at the rate of 10 per cent.; and £4,000 for the first 500 reapers and binders at the rate of £8 each.

The last-named bounty expires in July, 1909. The Federal Labour party has decided on the second' reading of the Iron Bonus Bill to table a motion in favour of nationalisation of the iron industry. A VALUABLE FIND. "A PEARL OF GREAT PRICE." Received November 14, 9.40 a.m. PERTH, November 14. A pearler found a pearl weighing on 3 hundred and fifty grains. He refused an offer of £4,000 for it. FUNDED STOCK. ISSUE AT SYDNEY. Received November 14, 9.25 a.m. SYDNEY, November 14. The issue at Sydney of £600,000 funded stock, carrying 3£ per cent., has been authorised. RAINFALL IN QUEENSLAND. RAILWAY FLOODED. Received November 14, 9.40 a.m. BRISBANE, November 14. Heavy rains are falling, and the northern railway U flooded. FEDERAL TARIFF. FURTHER REDUCTIONS MADE. Received November 14, 9.40 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 14. The duty on cotton and linen piece goods has been reduced to 5 per cent. Goods from the United Kingdom will be admitted free of duty. Flannelette has been reduced to 10 per cent.; preferential duty, 5 per cent.