AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 592, 24 March 1908, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

m [by electric telegraph — copyright.] [pee press association. 1 A SHIP "ASHORE. (Received March 24, 10.22 a.m.) Sydney, March 24. Tho steamer Hampstead, from Hawaii, reports that a large sailing ship is ashore on Middleton Reef. No namo is discernible. THE AUSTRALIAN MINT. Melbourne, March 24. ; The Federal Government is consi- i derdug a scheme of utilising .the pro- i posed mint for silver and bronze, for ! the complet-o manufacture of cart- j ridges. Tha working of the Mint < would not fully occupy all the hands, aoid as the brass cups from which cartridge cases are drawn, have to be imported, it is proposed to add the manufacture of these cups to the work .;** of the staff of the Mint . The profits on tho coinago of sUawcr ' -■ v aiid bronze is estimated af&d&fiwpet-^Jt annum. Thia would more than cover tho cost of producing twenty million cups, and twenty million cupronioal tmltefc envelopes. 'AN OFFICIAL INTIMATION. Mr Deakin has received an official acceptance of hia invitation to the American fleet. OPIUM SMUGGLING. Brisbane, March 24. Two salloon passengers on the Changs! i<a were arrested, for 'having 151 tins of smuggled opium, vahied at £950, in their possession.