AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13948, 2 January 1909, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

■ m ; . . . i .By Telegraph Press Association.— j , . INTER-STATE CRICKET. (Received January 2, 1.20 a.m.) , ;''., \ Melbourne, January 1. The annual inter-State cricket match between Victoria and South Australia com- : menced to-day. South Australia, batting . first, made 127, Pellew (21) and Woodford (32) being the chief fccorers. Vernon, captured five wickets for 24 runs, Hazlett -J three for 10, Laver one for 26, and Saun- ; ders one for 19. Victoria have three % wickets down for 113, Warne contributing 14, Hansford * (not out) 42, and McAlister '■■:■*. (not out) 42. , "] VICTORIAN INSOLVENCIES. ", (Received January; 2,, 1.10 a.m.) > '."•'■ : ' v - Melbourne, January 1. ■ ,'J Last year 123, estates were sequestrated. The liabilities totalled £105,386, the assets ;! showing a deficiency of £75,091. VICTORIAN. POLITICS. ... . Melbourne, January 1. *i Cabinet has decided' to open Parliament by Commission, instead of adopting - tlm usual course -of opening with 1 a speech from the Governor;' . Sir.i.Thoa.. Bent .'is confident that he will be' able to pull the *"i Ministry through. It is"'understood that he intends to meet Parliament as the, head , of : the Government. , " .'/;-..■ : .,".r; ; >s? NEW SOUTH WALES TRADE. ~',. . Sydney, January .1. . ,', Insolvencies in New.South Wales last year totalled 356, the liabilities being £322,850 and. the.assets £185,500. The State's imports for the year were valued at £37,500,000, a decrease of £1,956,000, as compared 'with the previous year. „ Exports totalled £27,500,000-, a: decrease of - -, £5,394,000. The State revenue for th« ■ I'i half-year shows a comparative decrease of ■: £454,000, while that of Victoria, disclose? a decrease ..of. £.323,000,. . RECORD BREAK. J , •'' . /.'"■"■':'■' : :l,\■;'-'''■ Sydney, .January. 1. Gray, a youthful billiard champion, heuii his own world's hazards ; ! on a : StainHiiidl &}&£, • by Cb, biseST'of 39ff points, of which 393 -came oft" the red. P.Ji- Tin FT A ■.: ,;• NEW : /' ZEALAND ;.BIJfE; *J _ | *' ,;.•'''.''':■: '•'"•! Sydney, . 'January'l.j : At a conference "of saw-millers yesterday, complaints were made that New Zealand ' ~ white pine, "imported ostensibly for butter boxes, was largely used for other purposes. , /1* It was decided to ask the Federal Parlia- r'|., mentto': prevent- the possible evasion of the Customs duty. ' ' iflPll! A HEAT. WAVE, - j : Sydney, January 1. 4 ' <- ? The heat ie.intense In the country, and '■ many ■registers of over one hundred degrees have been recorded. At Wildits-uia mercury, touched 115 degrees.". ;, ~ I 1 ' REVENUE RETURNS, - ' ;...... I Adelaide, January 1. , . The revenue for the half-year decreased by £59,300. In West Australia, the. . revenue decreased by £102,000. The decreases in each case were largely due to the falling off in the proportion of Federal revenue returned to. the States. THE BRAYBROOK DISASTER. • Melbourne, January 1. The total paid by the Railway Commissioners for ' the settlement of claims following on the Bray brook, disaster, is about; ' *'•» £124,000. , BARRIER MINING TROUBLE. . ■ "Sydney, January 1. ,-„ The Broken Hill Proprietary Company / }■ paid off. its . employees last night. ' The ' i; ! men are very determined against accepting ' },' the reduction' in wages decided upon ,by"; M by the management, and have commenced, ' \ picketing the: mine, preparing, for along- !• fight. _ ■ ' ■ ■■; •• ■■ • , \ |: ■ ,'.' ■ — ~ ~~~ .; , ' ••■l. ■ .■*■*-«■>-,,