AUSTRALIA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12950, 27 December 1904, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

MAIL CONTRACTS. MELBOURNE, Saturday. The Postmaster-General states that everything is being done to make satisfactory arrangements for the conveyance of mails. Regarding the “St. James’ Gazette’s” comments, he declares that, so far as he knows, there has been no suggestion of a contract to be given to a foreign company. German and French companies will generally be asked to carry mails at poundage rates, but the Government will not enter into any contract with them. SYDNEY, Saturday, The agent of the Messageries Maritime says that so far as his company are concerned, their contract with the French Government precludes them altogether from entering into any agreement with foreign Governments for the carriage of mails or rendering any official services. LONDON, December 25. The newspaper “Economist” ridicules the quibble which permits supporters ot the White Australia policy to use the P. and 0. Company for the carriage of mails. It says colonials must be simple if they think poundage rates will secure the same celerity and regularity as a subsidised line. Uncertainty, adds the “Economist,” means chaos, involving very serious inconvenience and loss

for the Commonwealth, and for all doing extensive business with the colonies. The “Economist” adds:—“lt will not be regrettable if utter paralysation of the service awakens the Commonwealth to the follies of Labour-

ARBITRATION’ LAWS. MELBOURNE, Saturday. The Trades Hall Council forwarded to the New Zealand Department of Labour copies of pamphlets recently issued by the Employers’ Federation with the object of proving that the New Zealand arbitration laws were a failure. Tile replies received state there is no getting away from the fact that the general effect of the Arbitration Act- has been lor the benefit of the whole community. No doubt the Employers’ Federation seized every opportunity of belittling the New Zealand legislation in order to retard such legislation in their own States, but the department were so used to this that they simply smiled, and allowed such attacks to go by, the results of the legislation being the best answer to such calumnies.

FIRE ON A STEAMER. FREMANTLE, Sunday. The Aberdeen liner Sophocles, bound from Sydney to London, with a large general cargo, has put in here with her cargo afire.

(Received December 26, 10.27 p.m.) PERTH, Monday. The fire on the Sophocles was only extinguished after the vessel was flooded. Of her cargo, 8000 carcases of mutton and 2500 cases of butter were rendered absolutely useless. The damage is estimated at £20,000.

HORSE-RACING. SYDNEY, Monday. December Stakes.—North Head 1, Steel Trust 2, Binnia 3. Summer Cup.—Cato 1, Elvo 2, Nothos 3. MELBOURNE, Monday. Hopetoun Cup,—Rifle 1, Newmarket 2, Ratafia 3. CRICKET. SYDNEY, Monday. In the cricket match, Queensland v. New South Wales second eleven, Queensland in their first innings scored 174 (Carew 43, Lewis 39, Fitzgerald 24). New South Wales have lost eight wickets lor 597 (Hickson 42, Poidevin 179, Pye 117, Carter not out 91). LOAN BILL. PERTH, Saturday. The Legislative Assembly passed a Loan Bill for £750,000 for public works. THE WEATHER. SYDNEY, Sunday. The weather is very hot in New South Wales, oppressive in Victoria, but cool in Queensland.