AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1907, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

» fPIUHB AaSCOtATIOJf.I (Received February 6, 9.30 a.m.) EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN. SYDNEY,' This Day. The Politioal Labour League, at it? conference, resolved in favour of equal pay for women with men for work of equal merit. PURCHASE OF TRAMWAYS. ADELAIDE, This Day. The Government has concluded the purchase of the city tramways - for £280,000. - QUEENSLAND POLITICS.- . BRISBANE, This Day. Mr. Denham, Minister of Agriculture, has resigned, owing to a disagreement regarding the Government policy. Negotiations are proceeding for an alliance between the Denham and Philp paities. RAILWAY' COMMISSIONERS. MELBOURNE, This Day. The Railway Commissioners hay« been re-appointed for three years at their present salaries. , MELBOURNE WOOL SALES. * MELBOURNE, This Day. At the wool v salc« competition ia extremely brisk, and the pric*3 obtained are equal to the highest' of the season. PLAGUE IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, sth February. The area within which rats Buffering from plague are found in the city is steadily extending. The health authorities declare that unless the people can be galvanised into sonle general action serious consequences are probable. MINERAL WEALTH IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, sth February. The value of minerals raided in New South Wales last year was $8470,000— an increase of £1,084,000 over the previous year. Tho output of coal wa« a record. The value was ,£2,337,000, an increase over 1905 of £333,800. Gold amounted to 253,987 ounces, value £1,079,000— a decrease of £86,000. The value of silver, lead, and concentrated' ores wai £3,157,000, an increase of £439,000. LARGE FIRE IN ADELAIDE?^" ADELAIDE, This Pay. The. largest; fire known here for many yeara gutted the Harrold Colton Company's ironmongery warohouse, covering an area of 70ft by 250 ft. The stock included a consignment of cartridges. The exploding cartridges injured twq 'firemen, but not seriously. Previously firemen had courageously removed, one hundred and, fifty case* of cartridges and two hundred pounds of gunpowder. Tlio bo6ka and papers of the farm were rescued. Falling walk seriously damaged telephone lines. The great efEorte of tike firemen pevented the, outbreak spreading to adjoining premises, though Barker and Cnambers'e warehouse "was considerably scorched, and was flooded with water. 'ilie Governor was oariy on the acene, and placed hig hors^ at the dfl3po«al of the firemen, besides rendering solid assistance in assisting to move the engjn.es a^ h aT£75 TOOOT 000 dainag6 " ""^ "*** The insurances total £67,300, including the National Ofl^ce in New Zealand £6000, Standard (New Zealand) £5000, and South British £4000. NEW SHIPPING AGREEMENT. SYDNEY, This Day. The new shippipg agreement to be filed in the Arbitration Court will be operative for thv«H) years. The wharf labourers have obtained increases for day work at the rate of 12 to' 14, and for night work ut 33 per centum. Umomsts are given preference over noq-unionisU; shipowners having the rigUt to fill up with non-unionists if the supply of unionists is short. Tho overtimo rate is fixed at two shillings. A Board of Conciliation, coneistjng of thres representatives from each side, is provided tor.