AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14133, 7 August 1909, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Tele^ra,ph.—Press Association.—

THE TIDE OF IMMIGRATION. (Received August 6, 8 p.m.)

Hobaet, August. 6. The Corinthic has arrived, from London with 404 emigrants for New Zealand. She sails for Wellington in the morning. OLD AGE PENSIONS. (Received August 7, 1 a.m.) ; c. • •.. ... . Melbourne, August. 6, ' The Senate has carried an amendment to the Old Age Pensions Bill excluding naturalised Chinese, Pacific Islanders, Maoris, and other coloured races from participation in pensions. • WOMEN'S VOTE IN VICTORIA, Melbourne, August 6. 'A total of 168,000 women have been enrolled in Victoria as voters for the Legislative Assembly.. . .... .

THE MISSING SEESTERN. Brisbane, August (i. - The steamers sent in search of • the missing German Government yacht ■ Seestern have returned, having found no traces of her.

LOAN BALLOTS. - V'; ' ' ' Sydney, August 6.

The High Court has upheld the lower Court's decision that the loan ballot conducted by the Mutual Loan Agency, Lmited, was'a lottery.

POTATO DISEASE.

Melbourne, August 6.

The Federal State authorities propose to take prompt action to prevent the potato disease spreading from Tasmania to the other States.

HEAVY SNOWSTORMS.

Sydney, August 6.

■ Snows in the western and south-western districts have blocked the delivery of mails. The fall reached 4ft, and in some districts the drifts are 50ft in depth. < Hobart, August 6. The weather is bitterly cold, with heavy snow.

PREFERENTIAL VOTING. Melbourne, August 6. The sitting of the State Assembly was suspended for a couple of hours at the invitation of the Treasurer, while mock elections were held in one of the committee rooms to demonstrate the working of the preferential voting system. A section of the > House objects to the introduction of the system in the Electoral Bill, and took this novel way ?of illustrating its objections. A PARLIAMENTARY SCENE. Brisbane, August 6. Mr. Woods created a scene in the House of Assembly by declaring that the Opposition had always to give way to the Government. Mr. Woods was suspended till later in the sitting. Leaving the House, he said he would deal, with the Speaker when he returned, adding : 'I put you in Parliament, and I'll put you out!" The House adjourned till the 14th inst., to enable Mr. Kidston to attend the Premiers' Conference. •. t