AUSTRALIAN.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume IX, Issue 1324, 28 November 1902, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

Received thin day, 10.56 a.m. Perth, Movember 27. Obituary—Justice Moorhead. Melbourne, November 27, The conference of the two Houses settled the points of dispute in tbo Factories Bill. The Pacific Cable Board advised a fate of Is Id bo applied to messages to any part of the British Empire anl North America. The Mount Lyell Company estimate to save £20,000 yearly by adopting an improved smelting process, which disposes of coke. Adelaide, November 27. A brilliant globular fireball, the size of the sun, was seen in theTowit country and lit up a quarter of a mile. Sydney, November 27. The Premier at a late hour announced to the Assembly the decision of the conference with heads of the Opposition and Labour Party in respect to affording relief to sufferers by drought. The conference decided the Government should take immediate action to relieve authenticated cases of distress by poshing on public works in stricken districts, extending the Advances to Settlers Act so as to empower the Board to make advances up to £1,500 for distribution of seed wheat, suspension of instalments of rents of Crown Lands and asking the Federal Government to suspend the duties on breadstuffs and fodder for twelve months, continuing to starve the stock of railway rates, and to be unremitting by pushing on water conservation in droughtad areas. Sir E. Barton when interviewed said, so far as the constitutional aspect was concerned be would undertake that under dire circumstances the case of any refund of duties mado to the State not a whisper of objection would come from the Commonwealth Government. Btdnky, November 27. In the Assembly, the Premier moved the resolution concerning aid to drought sufferers previously adopted at a conference of the party leaders, and which a caucus of the Government Party to-day endorsed. Mr B. B. O’Connor moved an amendment in favour of opening up negotiations with America and Canada for the importations of breadstuffs. The House generally favours the resolutions, which will probably ba carried.

Effects of the Drought.

Received this day at 10.2. a m. Sydney, November 28. During the Drought Belief Debate some heartrending accounts were heard of the distress ami suffering, and immense loss of stock and crops. It is alleged that many people are compelled to live on bran and treacle, intended to sustain tbo sheep on. An amendment found only three supporters, and the Premier's resolutions were all carried unamended.