AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 37

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A regulation published prohibits the use of the German language on the telephone. The gold yield of New South Wales for 1918 is valued at £369,743, as compared with £349,038 the previous year. . A hailstorm in the Mount Stuart district of Quensland caused severe losses of stock ftjid crops. , ,».'.. i „ Mr Watt. Acting Prime Minister, has announced that plans are almost complete for the establishment of the tmplate industry in Australia, The mineral production in 1917 of JXew South Wale 3 was valued at £12,952,719, being £857.636 in excess of the previous record. The 1918 figures are not available. A cable has been received stating that Britain is ready to pay the £570,000 due for the purchase of last season's butter out--put. This amount will be distributed at an early date. ;. The estimated deficiency in the Australian 6ugar crop, owing to cyclonio disturbances, is 40,000 tons. The Commonwealth Government has purchased 10,000 tons from Mauritius and Java.

A pronounced earthquake was experienced at Euela, where the border line between West and South Australia touches the Great Australian Bight. No damage resulted. . Larsen. the perpetrator of a train hold-up near Bathurst !n<=t month, has been cornmitod for trial. He attributed his escapade to '.'picture-show influence." The enginedriver stated that during the struggle on the engine the train, which, had 50 passengers aboard, attained a dangerous speed. The report of the visiting railway expert condemns the poliev of short time in the South Australian Government workshops He says that the tendency under these conditions is to slow down the rate of production and increase the cost of the workdone. He recommends the adoption of the card system, as used in the New South Wales Government Railway Workshops. A scheme is afoot in Sydney sculling circles with a view to inducing Ernest Barry to visit Australia. The proposal is that Barry should meet Paddon oh the Yarra and Arnst on the Brisbane River, and that a third match for the world's championship should take place against another sculler, probably Felton. The Federal Cabinet rearrangement is to operate until Mr Husrhes returns. It provides that Senator Russell (Vic.).- assisted by Mr Wise, M.H.R. (Vic), will act as . Defence Minister. Mr Walter Massey Greene will replace Mr Jensen as Minister of Customs (dismissed over the naval scan- " dal), and Mr Poynton will continue to act as Minister for the Navy. As Mr Orchard has retired, there are now two Ministers less than formerly. AUSTRALIAN WEATHER." The long spell of dry weather, augmented by the great heat of the past fortnight, is telling soverely on many parts of the Commonwealth, causing anxiety about feed. The water scarcity is- pressing hard on agriculturists antl "stock-owners, and some towns are suffering from water famine, bushsQh»sJ and* rabbits, which latter have been drlven-eout of the back country are widespread damage. The rain experienced in the southern districts of New South Wales is now extending to the north-eastern districts: also to Victoria and Tasmania. This has improved the outlook for pastoral and agricultural industries. During the hnnt wave several thermometers touched lOOdeg Fahr., in Melbourne. AUSTRALIAN WHEAT. The Wheat Board states that 50,000 tons of wheat have been sold to Norway at 5s 8d per bushel, f.o.b. The wheat pool overdraft is now £10,000.000. During January and February 36 stealers are due in Australia to load 228,550 tons of wheat for London. \ '-V The South Australian harvest is now estimated at 21.312.000 bushels, giving an average yield of 9.98 bushels per acre.