AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14143, 19 August 1909, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright

CHEAPER CABLES. ' Sydney, August 18. Sir Albert SriCER, addressing the Chamber of Commerce,, said-.nothing would tend to bind the Empire closer together than a reduction in the cost of cablegrams. It was the. most important question that could claim the attention of the different parts of the Empire. He declared that Great Britain was never in a stronger position commercially and industrially than to-day. ,

STATES AND FEDERATION. t; Melbourne, August 18.

After a further interview with Mr. Deakin, the Premiers' Conference formulated a scheme for dealing with the financial relations between the States and Commonwealth, which will be . submitted to Mr. Deakin to-day. , .It is ,understood that the scheme suggests that the Commonwealth contribution to the States should be on the basis of 30s per head of population, and if this is accepted.,the States are prepared to help the Commonwealth in regard to old age pensions in the present year, and thus do away with the necessity of the Federal Government borrowing to meet its obligations',. :

FIRE ON THE ' BORKUM. -• .. Sydxky, August • 18. ' The German steamer Borkum has ; arrived from Bremen , and Natal. - With . reference to the fire which' was reported- to have occurred " among her * cargo, and , which caused : the Borkum .to put into Mauritius, it appears that the origin is a mystery. The jettisoned cargo, includ- . ed 4000 cases of dynamite and 20 cases ; detonators, stored in the hold adjoining the outbreak. The' .fir© was still burning fiercely when the Borkum • arrived at Port Louis, but the crew, by great efforts, eventually succeeded in, quelling ; it. ! "" 11