AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14237, 7 December 1909, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— RIVAL INSURANCE COMPANIES. ■ (Received December 6, 11.30 p.m.) Melbourne, December 6. Judgment was given to-day in the case of the Mutual Life and Citizens Company v. the National Mutual Life, in which £20,000 was claimed. Plain were awarded £700 and costs, • including the cost of the discovery and interrogatories.

NAVAL LOAN BILL. (Received December 6, 11.30 p.m.) Melbourne, December 6. The Senate has passed the Naval Loan Bill by 13 votes to 10. NAMING THE FLEET. Melbourne, December 6. The torpedo destroyers now under construction in England will be named after rivers. The first three will be called the Parramatta, Yarra, and Warren go.

COLD WEATHER. , Melbourne, December 6. Very cold weather prevails, and the temperature is down to 43.8. Gales are raging on the coast, and shipping is de- > layed. . ; . . ! ' ' •

LIQUOR IN CANTEENS. Melbourne, December 6. The Senate amended the clause in the Defence Bill relating to canteens by prohibiting the sale of liquor during training. The effect is to leave the barrack canteens as at present. The House concurred in the amendment.

NORTHERN TERRITORY. Melbourne, December 6. The Senate has practically strangled i the Northern Territory Acceptance Bill. The stumbling-block was the construction of the transcontinental railway. Mr. Deakin has promised to use his influence to see that the Bill is not wholly list, even this session, and hopes it will not be long before the territory will be taken over by the Commonwealth.

H.M.S. POWERFUL. Sydxky, December 6. The Powerful, which was to havo sailed for Colombo to-day, has had > hex orders countermanded. Tho reason ii unknown. V [The Powerful, which has just completed an overhaul, was to have left Sydney for Colombo yesterday in order to pick up the new crew with which she is to bo recommissioned for a further term as flag, ship on the Australian station.]