AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10778, 29 May 1911, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

[By Electric. Telegraph—Copyright.) (Peb Press Association.) GENERAL STRIKE THREATENED. Received May 29, at 0.35 a.m.' Brisbane, May 28. At a .meeting of the representatives of 46 trades'' unions it was resolved 1 that unless a favorable reply was..re-.' ceived'from : theAPremier-in- regard'Mio the proposed conference, the only practicable solution of the gas employees' trouble would bo a'general .strike,: Both haye considered-'ijhe'-Wegjbst-:; ed conference", bui?-T,heir replies to life Premier are not disclosed.

: \ - TRAIN SMASH. Melbourne, May 28. : Two double^engined/,;coal trn;iu.s>>pp,K iidedi, on- the Powlett line, and tlirea engines r derailed and :: smashed. The" crews escaped by juinp■irig. - ;r ' ...,,,..... : ._ ■ : :.;,rU

IMMIGRANTS FOR AUSTRALIA. . Received-May 29, at 9.40 a.m.' "'W') 5 . ,-, - , . -.. Sydney, May 29, V Nearly -WO' immigrants; 1 including children, selected by the British Immigration" League, have arrived during the past few days, and the bulk of them have' already f•• secured. e niploymeiit; many going to Queensland.

THE QUESTION OF PREFERENCJE.

; Mellx>urnc,;-Jklay;-i,29f-.';r ; Mr Hughes stated that the Victorian Premier's recent statement in London that Australia would accept the principle of Imperial preference insofar as it did not injure herself; did nofeei'r on the side of rashness or generosity, and his views did not represent thjjf" views of the Federal Goyern.oient. The ;pxf tension of preference would have' to be carefully considered and the whole thing based on some businesslike scientific system. ,

POPULATION OF MELBOURNE. > Melbourne,* May 29. The census returns make the populations .of. .Viet0i;ia.,1 > 3;5,315:.;. The population of Melbourne and suburbs within a radius of ten. miles from the General Post Office is 591,830. Thesni figures have to be checked, . GOLD DISCOVERY. - May 29: The discovery qf good alluvial gold is reported from CaTrabiny:pieces ranging up to an ounce being unearthed. The indications 'poinfeitoi the existence of a deep lead and a considerable rush has started.'. :-/;.';■',-;• i //.. ii i . SHORTAGE OF.BRICKLAYERS. Brisbane, May 29. ' The building trade is impeded by a great shortage of bricklayers. BETTING SHOPS. Brisbane, May 29. • The police raided five alleged betting shops and made numerous arrests, including a.numbei; of prominent citizens. SIGN OF AUSTRALIA'S PROS- -: "TPERITY. Received May 29, at 8.50 a.m. ""'Sydney, May 29. The motor-cars and other motor vehicles imported to Australia last year are valued at £836,000, New South Wales paying £282,000, and Victoria £225,000 as their shares. FEDERAL FINANCE. i Melbourne, May 29., The Commonwealth's ■'■■ first repayment to the States undervthe 25s per head arrangement will, with the old-age pensions deductions, total only £80,529.