AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY

New Zealand Mail, 21 February 1901, Page 41

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY

Considerable activity is being displayed in the Queensland copper industry at .present. The Under-Secretary of Mines expects that the return will »es considerably increased by the end of the year. The Queensland Gc.vernment has accepted a tender for £141,000 for the ''erection of new offices for the Lands aswi. Survey Department. This is the largeef building contract ever let in QuenslamL The work will probably be completed is® three years. The New South Wales Lands Department has decided that in future applicants for land shall not be required t© appear before the Board and undergo examination. It will be sufficient to make a statutory declaration. The will of Mr John Merry, late of Sale, Victoria, grazier, has been proved at £27,320. There are bequests of £IOO each to the Sale Hospital, Bairns dale Hospital, and the Presbyterian infirm* ministers’ fund. Tbe residue of the estate is apportioned amongst the testator’s family.

The coal-trimmers of Newcastle, New South Wales, struck on account of fines being imposed for the observance of tfe© day of national mourning on the occasion of the Queen’s funeral. v After & delay of thirty-six hours the fines " were remitted and work was resumed.

The 250 men who are leaving Victoria to join the Marquis of Tullibardino’e Horse, will go without horses, TraC tlfe Victorian Government is * prepared to Supply 500 horses within a month. The Templemore will probably leave Brisbane with a contingent; next week, the Queensland Government having offered 500 men and 550 horse®. •Sir George Turner has expressed great annoyanop at the fact that a number of old age pensioners in Victoria are spending their ..pensions in drink, and he ha® given instructions that in ali cases whero pensioners are brought before, police courts charged with drunkenness or otheo? such offences offenders shall be called upon to show cause why the pension should not he suspended or cancelled.

With a view to encouraging the breeding of horses for army 1 purposes, the Government of New South Wale® has offered, through the Royal Agricultural Society, a prize of £SO for the best stal- . lion and r mare as a pair suitable for breeding army remounts. The entry foe; has been fixed at £l, and 1 75 per cent, of the fees will be given a® a second prize. ... -... ■ The Hon F. R. Moor, Natal Secretary for Native Affairs, interviewing tine Victorian Minister for Agriculture, sail Queensland cattle would be the best ffltf South Africa, as they were immune frona tick. The Argentine was making & strong bid for the trade of South 1 Africa, but British subjects appreciated s© greatly the assistance given from Australia in the Boer: wa£ that, they would, wherever possible, give preference to Australian goods. ; f . - .-i