AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 16664, 21 February 1918, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

p. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SPOKT^MA2f'S~BAiXKRUPTCy. SYDNEY, February 20. Giving evidence in the Bankruptcy Court to-day, Mr Harry Nathan, the weli'-lcnown Sydney racehorse owner and sportsman, attribute;! his bankruptcy chiefly to contracts made before the w.r with the German Government to purchase blood-stock fo stud purposes. Just before the war he expended 'between £9,0C0 and £IO.OOO in this way, but the war prevented'delivery. Failing to get the prices he paid, he thought to make them pay by racing, but failed to do so. His purchases inoluded a New Zealand horse, for which he paid £1,6C0, and which he sold to the German Government for £4,500. A LIVE STOCK CSENSUS. SYDNEY, February 20. Official statistics show that the number of horses in New South Wales on June 30 last was 753.828. showing an increase of cattle, 2,665,767—an increase of 059.937 ; sheep, 36.179,730—an increase of 3,579,001; pigs, 359,780—an increase of 78,622. The area under crop was 5,166,564 a ores—a decrease of 634,182 acres as compared with the previous June. HEAVY LOSS OF SUGAR. SYDNEY, February 21. (Received February 21, at 10 a.m.) A deputation representing Queensland sugar growers told Mr Hughes (Commonwealth Prime. Minister) that the loss of sugar as a result of the floods at Mackay is estimated at £250,000. Mr Hughes promised that the Commonwealth would pay for the quantity destroyed. . THE TALLO WSUPPLY. MELBOURNE, February 21. (Received February 21, at 10 a.m.) New regulations empower the Commonwealth to commandeer stocks of tallow, the compensation not to exceed £45 per ton.