ITALIAN DISASTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3089, 11 January 1909, Page 5

ITALIAN DISASTER.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

RELIEF MEASURES,

AUSTR ALIAS' CONTRIBUTION

MELBOURNE, January 9

The Consui-Generalf of Italy (Signer C. Bertola), in acknowledging the Commonwealth's contribution to the earthquake furd, says:— "The Commonwealth Government

has given most generous sanction to a most noble prmeipb—a principle

which ignores time and distance, ifj

above race discriminations and prejudices of every kind and Is the true basis of civilisation. It has earned the everla,-it:r.g gratitude of the warm-hearted Italian people." A SUBSTANTIAL GRANT. SURTAX ON CERTAIN SOURCEb OF REVENUE. Received January 10, 10.43 p.m. ROME, January 9. The Chamber cheered Signor Gioletli's statement that Messina and Reggio were to be rebuilt, and granted a million and a quarter sterling from the Budget surplus to provide for urgent needs in connection with the re-construction of public buildings. The Chamber imposed a surtax on certain sources of revenue for two years. ITALIAN GOVERNMENT'S THANKS. Received January 10, 4..10 p.m. LONDON, January 9. Mr W. P. Reeves (High Commissioner for New Zealand) and Mr T. A. Ccghlan (Agent-General for New South Wales) have received the Italian Government's warmest thanks for the generous donations made by the New Zealand and New South Wales Governments respectively, to the Relief Fund.

The Mansion House Fund ha" reached £BO,OOO.