AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1926, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

(Australian and N.Z. Cable A*»ocißtion.) BUSH FIRES SYDNEY, February 1. Repprts from the Upper Murray and Southern Tablelands indicate that this ia the worst year for bush fires since 1900. Big outbreaks are reported on the ranges east of Wagga. At Holbrook the fire has a front of nearly fourteen miles. About a hundred thousand acres are burning near Jingellic. ~.. i SAMOAN ADVANCE. MELBOURNE, February 1. Mr.-Andrew Thomson, director of the Apia Observatory, is in Melbourne. In regard to the question of meteorological co-ordination among Australia, N.Z. and Samoa, he says that Western Samoa is under British control, and the administration, by the New land Government has changed greatly in character, and since the depression in 1921, the Western areas have developed readily. The -former large German plantations realising profits of more than £ 25,000 last year. The population increased by over -a thousand. This was due to the improved medical treatment and assistance of Doctor R. Roberts, wife of the American Consul, and Dr. Mabel Christie. Both these women doctors visit the villages. There are now more than 250 native nurses scattered throughout the Island.