AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12147, 18 December 1902, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— IMPORTED CONTRACT LABOUR.; Melbourne, December 17. i A representative deputation asked Sir Ej Barton to repeal the clause in the Act* under which the hatters were detained./ Mr. Barton declined to amend the law ex* eluding workers under contract.

VIOLENT GALES. ' Melbourne, December 17. Violent gales are raging." At Portland/ 'but 1 of a fishing fleet of thirty boats, onlyj six remain uninjured. The rest were driven.* ashore and dashed to pieces. END OF THE DROUGHT. AbelaidEj, December,!?. ■■ Heavy ram has fallen in various parts of the North) from Alice Springs downwards The creeks are running bank highland the) drought is believed to be broken up. i Sydney, December 17. ' j Splendid mousooual rains have fallen in') nearly every part of New South Walesy* The rains still continue. (Received December 17, 10.10 p.m.) ' I . Sydney, December 17. ,:. j Rain in the northern district is except tionally heavy. ; Six and a-half inches fell- • at Tabulum. In the last 24 hours 2in hav» t;c fallen in the Broken Hill area. The era districts received & beneficial fall_ and? the Riverina stations record from iin to 3_v THE WHEAT HARVEST. , (Received December 17. 10.10 p.m.) ' '~.,■ .'Sydney, December 17. \ The completed official; returns of the! - wheat harvest show a yield of 1,411,000' : bushels. If the whole area originally sowatj is taken into account, the average is 1.1! bushel per acre. ' The amount of seed sow*! - was greater than the«quantity harvested., RELIGIOUS TEACHING IN SCHOOLS.* (Received December 17, 10.10 p.m.) ', December 17.- • i The Council, by 15 to il, inserted at clause 'in the Education Act Amendments Bill providing /" for voluntary religious - in- - struction in school hours instead of lafteij school, as at present. ,

TBADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.. .( (Received December 18, 1.9 a.m.) Melbourne, December 17." The Minister for Agriculture has received a cable from the Victorian Governmentsagent in South Africa asking for a quotas tion for 100,000 two and four-tooth ewesd c.if. East London. The Government has! also received , information that at' a ■ recentfj sale at Durban, sheep ranged from 22s tori 275, Argentine animals offering at 245..' ■ AUSTRALIAN SHOPPING LAWS,. ", . (Received December 18, 1.19 a.m.) Sydney, December 17. , In connection with the conviction of the»\ commander of the Oceana for breaking' ; seals, the case has been taken to the Privy; Council. A cable received by the P, and O. Company states that at a meeting of all the large steamship; lines, it was decided to fight the Federal Government conV jointly on the point.