AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2700, 20 April 1915, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

. ♦ aa* ELECTBHJ TELEGBAPH.—COPYBIGHT. PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION. Melbourne, April 19. Butter has increased to ls 7cl per lb wliolesale. Sydney, April 19. In connection with defalcations amounting to £3200 from the AVallscnd branch of tho Government Savings BanJi, a recent resident of AVallscnd Jias been arrested at Durban, South Africa. (Received April 20, 0.30 a.m.) 'Sydney, April 20. The Belgian Consul's fund totals £220,006, including £47,712 from Auckland and Christchurch. The Lord Mayor's patriotic fund totals £195,535. Widespread beneficial rains have fallen -in the Riverina, A r ietoria, Soutli Australia, and Tasmania. The Federal Government lias arranged for the importation of 23,000 tons of American -hay. Tlie Wood Company, wholesale grocers, Fremantle, were burned out. The damage to tlie stock alone amounts to £50,000. A repetition has occurred of the mysterious robbery of a year ago, and tlio further disappearance of bags containing notes, gold, and silver (to the valuo of £050) from tho tramway depots-strongroom. Tho police are unable to solve tho mystery. Melbourne, April 20. A deputati-nu from tbo Chamber of Manufacturers asked Premier Fisher to impose a surcharge of 25 per cent, on enemy goods for a period .of ten years alter the war, and also .vugbested a tbreo-scbeilulo tarilf on Canadian Hues. This would provide preference for British goods, a lesser preference for most favoured nations, and an ordinary tariff ' for enemy goods. The Cabinet's consideration was promised. Adelaide, April 20. Obituary.—Sir Thomas Pla.yioul, nil ex-Federal Minister of Defence.