AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2576, 6 March 1915, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

BY KLEOTRIO TELEGRAPH. —COPXBKJHT. PER PBEBB ASSOCIATION. (Received March 6, 9.40 a.m.) Sydney, March 6. Some of the hotels have dropped the prices of drinks below the old rates* and are selling ; sevenpenny nips at fivepence. The new Belgian relief committee i s busy, and already over £5000 has been subscribed. The other States are also organising committees. Brisbane, March 6. A deputation representing the American Peace Societies asked the Methodist Conference to urge the abolition of war. The Rev. Mr Rowe, replying for the Conference, said he valued peace, but not peace at any price. "They were in the war and must see it" through, and they were doing that in the name of Christ. Adelaide, March 6. Tea merchants-have advanced prices lid per lb. Bakers have increased the price of small goods 10 per cent(Received March 6, 9.40 a.m.) Sydney, March 6.

Premier Hohnan, in an interview regarding Mr Carmichael's resignation (see page 4), said there had been differences of opinion recently discussed between him and Mr Carmichael, but only on most trifling matters, nothing like as serious as other differences which had been surmounted. There was not the slightest difference as regards policy, public knauce. party management, administration, or any matter of public concern. There are 200 Sydney university lneii serving with the expeditionary or Imperial forces. When the new abattoirs are ready, in three weeks' time, the Government will undertake the killing of stock for imperial requirements. The Licensed Victuallers' Association sanctioned members reverting to the old scale oi charges for drinks. The cutting oil' of -manganese supplies from Germany has led to the reopening of the closed mine at Lithgo\\'. Judge Docker, at tho quarter sessions, vigorously condemned the submitting of prisoners to the third degree, which was nothing less than' torture. • English judges, he said, always set their fa cos against such practices. The number of horses in New South Wales on Jaimaiv 1 was 588,201, a decrease of 27.249; cuttle, 2,281,973, a decrease of 191,670; sheep, 34,726,----269, a decerase of 3.278,273, compared with 1913. The dec-ease of horses is attributed to the great demand for military purposes, and decreases of cattle and sheep t<> the drought and high prices obtainable, . Melbourne. March 6. _When the steamer Gregory Apcar, from "Calcutta, arrived a-'Lascar and. a steward were found to be suffering from small pox. The vessel was put in quarantine. At the Racing Club meeting in support of the totalisator, Mr' Odgen claimed that New Zealand's experience was conclusive proof of the benefits of the machine, which would also place charity on a sound footing. , The Methodist Conference decided against the proposed wihtdrawal of two missionaries from Fiji. Dr Moragainst the proposed withdrawal ol: dieted that, the opening of the Panama Canal would result in the initiation of vigorous American enterprise iv tho Islands.

At an enthusiastic foreign mission meeting a sum of £1560 wa s subscribed.