AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 15 January 1914, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

TASMANIAN POLITICS. AN ELECTION PROBABLE. BY ELECTRIC TELEGBAPH COPYRIGHT, PEE UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received January 15, 11.0 a.m. HOBART, Jan. 15. A political crisis is pending in Tasmania owing to the recent by-election depriving the Government of a majority. The Liberal and Labor parties are equally divided, there being 15 votes on each side. If the Opposition refuses to give the Government the Speakership a crisis is inevitable and an election will follow. , COOPERAGE BURNED. Received January 15, 11 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 15. A fire occurred at the cooperage of Dormacks, Limited, Darling Harbor. Hie damage is estimated at £9OOO, fvhich is covered by insurance. THE SOMERSET.

I Received January 15, 11 a.m. j I BRISBANE, Jan. 15. ' ! The steamer Somerset, damaged by j fire during fumigation, will require extensive repairs on the vessel's arrival in London. N.S.W. SAYINGS BANK. Received January 15, 10.30 a.m. SYiDNEY, Jan. 15. The Commissioner of New South j Wales Savings Bank has fixed the rate of interest on deposits for the current j year at 3J per cent at \ per cent lower | than for 1913.