ABOUT AUSTRALIA.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2311, 14 March 1914, Page 2

ABOUT AUSTRALIA.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. (Received 8.55 a.m.) Sydney. March 14. The American barque Afonlaw reports that when off Pitcairn Island two boats containing 34 Is land residents came on board and reported they were short of bread and clhpi commodities. They obtained a supply, also clothing, in exchange for poultry, vegetables, and fruit. The Islanders, reported all was well on Pitcairn. A gale had destroyed the plantations some time ago, but they were now recovering from the effects. Regarding the uneasiness reported as to the establishment of the American Beef Trust in Australia, Federal Premier Cook says there is no need for the worry, as the Government is keeping its eyes open.

A blasting fatality ocurred ar* Orbost, on the railway. A charge failed to explode, and the foreman, John Carroll, his son Peter, and a third man named Sullivan attempted to draw the charge, when it exploded and killed the three men. Portions of John Carroll's, body were found 200 yards away:,. Mr Jeffreys, who was the wireless operator with the Mawson expedition, was found in an exhausl '< ed and demented condition in tho bush, where he had beeri wander < ing for six days,- practically without food. He was removed to tho Ararat asylum. Mr Jeffreys joined a train at Adelaide en route to Queensland, and how he came to leave the train and wander in L ho bush is not known.

Papuan statistics show that la * year there was a record plantation development, 216 being in operation, compared with 76 five years ago. The acreage increased from '4955 to 35,363, including 625G acres under rubber, 3057 under hemp, and 609 under cotton.

In the N.S.W. Assembly, Premier Holman, delivering the Budget, estimates the revenue for tho curent year at £18,380,000, an increase of £2,120,000, including £643,000 from the new taxation already foreshadowed, in addition to higher freights and fares on railways and tramways. He estimates the expenditure at £16,• 342,000, leaving a surplus of £39,000. This surplus will be obtained. by abolishing the sinking fund for the year and not making any grants to the Public Works funds. The Budget shows that the last financial year closed with a debit balance of £1,167,000. Mr Holman admits a serious -blunder in dropping the Income-tax and Stamp Duties Bill. New South Wales is the most highly taxed Slate in the Commonwealth —viz', 17s 3d per head. He proposes to raise £35,000 by imposing charges on outgoing vessels on the same basis as the charges on inward vessels. Companies will be taxed upon their profits, at a flat.rate of Is in £1. As an alternative means of revenue, the Government contemplates the control of the sale of Tjertol or a tax on motor cars

and motor lorries. The income-tax proposals reduce exemption from £300 to £250, and the praduating is altered so as to commence at"Bd, rising so as to reach 14d in the £1 on incomes in excess of £9700. The. previous graduation was <6d to Is. Mr Wade, Leader of the Opposition, criticising the Budget, said the Premier's whole speech was devoted to a miserable confession that year, after year he had been compelled to acknowledge a deficiency. The Goverment, after its financial debauchery, had not the moral courage to put its hand to the plough or reform and adjustment for fear of losing a few votes. The debate was adjourned until next Thursday. • (Received 10.40 a.m.) Sydney, March 14. A train smash occurred at Exeter, on the southern line. Full details are not available, but it is believed seven persons have been killed and 20 injured. The Temora mail train from Sydney crashed into a stationary goods train, telescoped a passenger cor and a sleeping car, and derailed the engine.' The wildest confusion resulted. Relief trains conveying officials and doctors were despatched. Rain and mist obscuring the signals is believed to have been the cause of the collision. Among those killed are Fred. Kelzengogan, of Mittagong, Alice Eva, of Cootoinundra, James Eva, of Parramatta, and two women and one . man whose names are unknown, also a maU guard. Later messages state that 14 persons were killed and six seriously injured. (An official account says 14 persons were killed and six in-: jured.)

Sailed—H.'M.S. Torch, for New. Zealand.

Clarence Heads, March 14. Sailed — Mauurewa, for New Zealand. .

Mr Julian King Salter arrived by the Omrah to take charge of the Cockatoo Island dock, relieving Mr Cutler, who will shortly take, charge of the State dockyards..

Sir Robert Best,, interviewed, thinks a double dissolution of the Federal Parliament is certain before the end of the yeai\ He believes the Liberals will be returned to power with a slightly majority.

Robert Semplq, who was a j>assenger by the Maunganui, says in* dustrial organisations in tho Dominion received a severe blow during tlie recent strike, but they were not defeated. He expressed the opinion that at the next elections, iv about a year's time, the Massey Government will suffer defeat. Ho criticised the Government's treatment of workers, which he said was worse than Premier. Botha's in, South Africa. Hobart, March 14. , The conference of Federated Licensed Victuallers has concluded. They approved of the principle of monetary compensation from tho consolidated revenue to owners and licensees of hotels whose licenses are lost as the consequence of local option. The next conference wilt be held in Wellington in 1915. Newcastle, March 14.Dr.Mawson states Jeffreys was one of the party who was left ashore at Commonwealth Bay to work the wireless, failed in health, and his mental conditon showed signs of weakness. He began to despatch extraordinary messages, and was relieved of his wireless duties. Dr Mac Lean spared no pains to afford him relief, and Jeffreys appeared to recover, and when landed in Adelaide seemed quite normal. He was paid off, and intended returning to his home at Toowoomba. , f •