AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 25 January 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

| GUARDING THE MEAT TRADE. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT. PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received January 25, 9.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Jan. 25. The Federal Government is taking precautions to prevent unsuitable meat being exported. Additional special officers will be ap-' pointed in this connection. WEIGHT OF WHEAT BACS. Received Januarv 25, 9.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Jan. 25. The Minister for Customs (Mr Tudor) intends to prohibit the export of wheat bags containing over 2001b. SERIOUS LANDSLIDE. Received January 25, 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 25. A serious landslide has occurred in the third section of the North Coast railway between Gloucester and Taree. The damage is estimated at £37,000. SYDNEY'S STREET TRAFFIC. Received January 25, 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 25. The Minister for Works (Mr A. H.' Griffiths) has appointed a committee of experts to inquire into the runr.ing of motor omnibusses and trackless trams in order to relieve the congested street traffic. QUEENSLAND FLOODS. Received January 25 ,10 a.m. BRISBANE, Jan. 25. I The Normanton (the chief seaport on tho Gulf of Carpentaria) railway has been interrupted since January 10, the highest floods on record being experienced. The country is submerged for miles and the river is uncrossable. ADVANCES FOR HOMES. Received January 25, 10 a.m. ADELAIDE, Jan. 25. The sum of £26,835 has been advanced under the Advances for Homes Act. THEIR HAIR ON END. j' Received January 25, 10 a.m. I MELBOURNE, Jan. 25. A party of tourists at Mount Buffalo encountered an electric storm. The hair of their heads literally stood on end and members of the party felt a tingling sensation but were not injured. "COD'S OWN COUNTRY." SYDNEY, Jan. 24. Mr -Wade (ex-Premier), who has returned from his visit to the Dominion, states that he found everybody in NewZealand in good heart, with more than ever unbounded confidence in "God's own country." New Zealand afforded the strongest argument that advanced democratic legislation can be carried out in a State where a Liberal Government is in control and when Labor has not succeeded in achieving representation by move than one member in the Lower House. POTATO BLICHT IN VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, Jan. 24. The Irish blight continues to spread, and 34 districts have been quarantined. Spraying is being largely utilised. TREATMENT OF BLACKS. SYDNEY, Jan. 24. An influential deputation waited on Mr Fijher (Prime Minister) to-day and urged upon him the national obligation towards the aboriginal population. They asked for the formulation of a scheme for proper and humane treatment, particularly in view of the Commonwealth taking over the Northern Territory. Mr Fisher promised that suitable land would be made available as sanctuaries for the blacks and that they would be protected from exploitation by his own or any other race. Everything would be done to make their existence happy. THE BRADDGN CLAUSE. Received January 25, 9.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Jan. 25. The final payment to the States under the Braddon clause was completed yesterday. An important agreement was arrived at between the Federal and State Premiers as to the financial arrangement which is to succeed the "Braddon clause." The "Braddon clause" of the Constitution bound the Federal Government to make over to the States for the first ten years of its existence not less than three-quarters of the total revenue from Customs and Excise. Unless in the meantime some other arrangement was to be negotiated between the Commonwealth and the States these payments would cease automatically on January 1, 1911. After many conferences between the Premiers a decision was arrived at in August, the State Premiers agreeing to accept from the Federal Government a payment amounting to 25s per head of their populations in place of the three-quarter share of Customs and Excise. Western Australia is to have special treatment; her share of the allowance will be £2 2s per head, each of the other States receiving £1 5s 7d.