AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14586, 24 January 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telecraph. —Press Association.—

THE MURRAY WATERS.

(Received January 24, 12.35 a.m.) Melbourne, January 23. The Murray Waters Conference has resulted in a partial arrangement. Broadly speaking, South Australia is allowed to carry out storage work. New South Wales and Victoria, however, do not recognise her claim of navigation in any way, and do not bind themselves to deliver any quantity of water at the point of intake into South Australia. New South Wales transfers Lake Victoria, with certain watercourses and lands adjoining, tentatively to South Australia. ■

A stipulation is made that the agreement does not prejudice any claim to the- reasonable use by New South Wales of the waters of the River Murray or its tributaries. RAILWAY RETURNS. (Received January 23, 11 p. 114.) ' , Melbourne, January 23. - The railway revenue for the half-year increased by £245,000. ' (Received January 24, 12.35 a.m.) Sydney, January 23. The railway revenue for the quarter just ended, shows an increase of £160,490, as compared with the corresponding period of last year. The tramways earnings show an increase of £46,700. THREE FIREMEN DROWNED. (Received January 24, 12.35 a.m.) • : Brisbane, January 23. The bodies' of three firemen, Hill, Saddler, and Martin, belonging to the steamer Waipara, have been found in the river. How they were drowned is a • mystery. They were seen about the town during the day and afterwards disappeared.

PEA-RIFLE FATALITY. Sydney, January 23.

A man named Duke was found dead from a bullet wound at Oberon. He carried a pea-rifle in , his 6wag, and was . apparently putting the swag down when the concussion exploded a cartridge.

STEVEDORES' WAGES.

Melbourne, January 23.

The stevedoring trouble has been settled. The men demanded an increase from Is 3d to Is 6d an hour. The . employers conceded Is sd. The "new agreement remains in force till November, 1913.

KAISER'S SHARP SWORD.

Sydney* January 23.

Speaking in German at the German national festival, Dr. Kottman said the Kaiser kept his sword in the sheath, though he always kept it sharp, exemplifying the maxim that those who desired peace must be prepared for war.

DUTY ON CANADIAN TIMBER.

Melbourne, January 23.

Mr. Tudor (Minister for Customs), referring to the Canadian proposal to include timber in any : reciprocal arrangement with Australia, declared- if it meant dressed timber he did not think a reduction in duty could be made. The intention of the tariff was to have as much, timber as possible dressed in Australia.

. PONAPE REBELS. Brisbane, January -23.

The German steamer from New Guinea brings news that the rebels at Ponape have erected fortifications. Two German gunboats and two warships from the Eastern station are on the scene, and have commenced to. shell the rebels' position.

DANGER OF THE CHURCH.

Sydney, January 23.

The Rev. Dr. Bevan, in a sermon in Pitt-street Church, said the great danger of the Church was its formulas, its fine .buildings, its splendid rubrics, and its grand organs. It had become a dogmatic, official institution, and had ceased to be the_ kingdom that Christ declared to be within it. Most of the social conditions to-day were those of force and property. Referring to the continuance of the Jewish people, Dr. Bevan declared : "You won't go to war till the Jew tells you you may. You are dominated by a nationless, homeless,'despised people., the scattered children of Israel." /

SURVEYORS' CONFERENCE.

II on art, January 23.

The Surveyors' Conference, including New Zealand representatives, ! discussed the question of Imperial reciprocity in examination and authorisation of surveyors. It was decided that Australia and l\ T ew Zealand be jointly represented bv two delegates at the forthcoming conference of surveyors-general in London, and Messrs. Spowers and Counsel, sur-veyors-general for Queensland and Tasmania, were respectively selected as representatives. The conference . decided that the work of surveyors in Britain and the colonies was so dissimilar that no specific directions could be given to the representatives. A satisfactory mutual arrangement was possible only by a policy of give and take. The conference .amended the examination regulations to facilitate the licensing as surveyors of university graduates in engineering- ;