AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11152, 19 December 1901, Page 6

AUSTRALIA.

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. PASSENOERS FOR NEW ZEALAND. I (Received December 18th, 10.34 a.m.) ! SYDNEY, December 18. The Attorney-General, Mr Wise, and Mr C. E. Pilcher, are passengers for New ZeaI land by the Ventura, which left yesterday j for i?an Francisco via Auckland. Mr Wise Jis going to enquire regarding regulations, J etc., for the working of the Industrial ArJ bitration Act. in Now Hpxith Wales. J THE FEDERAL CAPITAL. In the Assembly Mr See (Premier) tabled the correspondence, and made a statement in reference to the question of the site of the Feder.il capital. This disclosed that some friction Lad arisen over Mr See refusing to make an official recommendation of any particular site. * ROYAL ASSENT TO THE KANAKA BILL. MELBOURNE, December 18. It is announced that the Earl of Hopetoun, Governor-General, has signified the Royal assent to the Kanaka Bill. THE CABLE SERVICES. The Federal Cabinet has authorised Mr Drake, Postmaster-General, to enter into negotiations with the Eastern Extension Company, with the view to arranging a satisfactory agreement with regard to the Cape cable supplying the whole Commonwealth. BETTING- AT A CYCLING MEETING. (Received December 18th, 10.24 p.m.) MELBOURiNiE, December 18. The Melbourne Cricket Club Committee resolved that unless steps are taken to prevent such an exhibition of 'betting as marked the Austral Wheel Meeting, the grounds wiil not be let again for soch a purpose. HEAT IN QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, December 18. Intense heat prevails in the interior, and destructive bush fires have occurred in several districts.