AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 March 1926, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

(Australian and N.Z. Cable AasociatiAn. REPATRIATION COSTS MELBOURNE, March 3. The report of the Repatriation Commission tabled in the House of Representatives shows that the total cost of reparation, including the war gratuities and pensions to the end of June last, amounted to £154,139,106. STOCK STATISTICS SYDNEY, March 4. The stock branch of the Agriculture Department estimates the number of live stock in the State at December 31 last was: Horses 502,976, cattle 2,582,988, sheep 40,761,504. The returns show a decrease for the year of twenty-one thousand horses, fort/ thousand cattle and an increase of nearly two million sheep.

AV ATER FAMINE. MELBOURNE, March 4. Owing to the continuance of the dry weather, the metropolitan water supply failed to meet the demand this summer. The supply for garden purposes has been strictly prohibited Several public baths had the supplj cut off, and were forced to close. More stringent regulations are forecasted. TRADE WITH N.Z. SYDNEY, March 3. Mr. Allan, Victorian Premier, it passenger on the Ulimaroa. said that he was disappointed with the Dominion as a customer for Australian products. It was puzzling that there should be a duty of 35 per cent, on Australian boots and fruit, whereas the duty on British boots and fruit was 25 per cent. He had made inquiries, but did not get much satisfaction. He saw much Italian and Californian fruit while in the Dominion. He thought that there should be an Australian Trade Commission in New Zealand. BUSH FIRES MELBOURNE, March 4. On Mount Plenty and the surrounding districts, gangs of lighters are still battling against bush fires. The danger grows hourly. The strong northerly wind materially increased the gravity of the situation. On Mount Plenty alone over a million sterling worth of mountain ash was destroyed Plantation of pine trees valued at a million is almost in the direct track of the fire. Phosphate works are in danger and strenuous efforts are beingmade to save them.