AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13872, 5 October 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

■•; By Telegraph.— Association—CopyTight. COMPULSORY SERVICE. MELUpURKE, October 3. The Military Board has considered ' th« . defence scheme, •; and approved ■of : universal ;■ '.- ; I training. ■ - / ' QUEENSLAND BUSH FIRES. Brisbane, October 3.' - Bush, fires in the Winton district hava swept several, stations, , destroying 30,000 acres of grass and considerable stock. OLD AGE PENSIONS. Sydney, October 3. During the year ended June 30, £500,000 "was paid for old age pensions. .The average number of pensioners was 21,575. . , / BUTTER EXPORTS. • Melbourne, October .3. ,: The butter exports ..of the State ;. from July to September were over a million and ■.-■ : '. a-half pounds less than for the same period last yeai. ■. \ ■>;■ ■' i : .;■:,■.;■■ ■':,.;,' ■':■.■■ (}t' } o' : '■■^'■■■'"'■■'■U VICTORIAN BY-ELECTION. Melbourne, October 3. - The by-election for the Assembly fot Richmond resulted in the return of the Labourite candidate, Mr. Cotter. The seat was formerly held bj Mr. G. H. Bennett, ' a '■ Ministerialist. ".-■ LORD ROSEBERY'S VISIT. " Melbourne, October 3. In reply to inquiries, Mr. Deakin stated that he knew nothing of Lord Rosebery's ; intended visit to New Zealand and Aus- • traliaj but he had understood-since the farewell dinner to the Governor of Vic-, toria (Sir Reginald Talbot) that the earl .: would probably pay an early visit to Australia. / , .'. ' FEDERAL CAPITAL SITE. Melbourne. October 3The Federal House of Representatives has decided to take a ballot on the Capital Site Bill on Thursday. . The sites nominated are Dalgety*; Canberra, ! , Albury, ' Yass, Lyndhurst, Armidale, Tooma, Tximut, Lake George, Bombala, and "Orange. Practically the whole site question is again reopened. ■■'..",'■..".." . ■ :■':: . '{':'•"-' -■■■'■": •-";'■ .''" '' '' ''""•• ',:":. ""''''■'. ; ; "V 1 ' ..•' V'v''-!':'''-.':! SEAMEN'S PAY.' Sydney, October 3. The judgment of the Industrial Court in the claim of the Merchant Service Guild ' against the coastal steamship companies. for better pay and improved working con-,, ditions awarded increasedlpay to master* and officers, but not to the extent demanded. The judgment also to some extent varied the working conditions. The .award; declines to concede preference to ; guild members. The president of the Court i*» \ cidentally declared the Lite strike again*t'. : the coastal companies to be illegal.