AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 119, 15 November 1902, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE VACANT GOVERNORGENERALSHD?. OFFERED TO LORD TENNYSON. [PBESS ASSOCIATION.] MELBOURNE, 14th November, Lord Tennyson, who has been acting as Governor-General of the Commonwealth since the departure of the Marquis of Linltthgow, has been offered that position for the full term of five years. It is understood that some difficulties purely of a personal and domestic character, the chief being in connection with the schooling of his sons, stand in the •way of his acceptance. Should these be overcome he will probably accept. (Received November 15, 10.16 a.m.), MELBOURNE, This Day. Lord Tennyson, who has been suffering from appendicitis, is steadily regaining health. He presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive at Government House. RESULT OF THE DROUGHT. DESPERATE POSITION IN THE INTERIOR. SYDNEY, 14th November. The position at the White Cliffs opal neld, 780 miles west of Sydney, is becoming desperate. One death from starvation is reported. Some persons are subsisting on flour and water. The miners have had no meat for six weeks, and have been living on bread and jam. The sanitary condition of the place, owing to the want of water, is a serious menace. MELBOURNE, 14th November. ' Cabinet has decided to supply seed wheat to farmers in the mallee districts whose crops have been ruined by the drought. SYDNEY, 14th November. At the sales to-day milling wheat made 5s 7d; chick, local, 5s Gd; New Zealand, 5s 2d. THE INCOME-TAX BDLL IN" QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, 14th November. The Legislative Assembly has disagreed jvith some of the Council's amendments to the Income-lax' Bill. RENEWED AGITATION FOR SUSPENSION OF FODDER DUTIES. (Received November 15, 9.51 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Owing to the continued drought in the jnterior, the agitation in favour of suspension of the fodder duties is strongly feviving. Distressing accounts come to land of the faihire of crops and of starving stock. Victoria and Queensland, parts of which are severely affected, are joining in the movement. Sir Edmund Barton, on being approached on the matter, said the Federal Parliament would not be called together to consider the question. When the seslions resumed would be eaiiy enough. It is stated that the maize ring in Sydjey has made large profits on importa)ions during the past few months, and Jhe Government is asked to interfere in ihe interests of suffering stookowners.