COMMONWEALTH NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17969, 9 March 1917, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH NEWS

GOVERNOR STRICKLAND’S TERM. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, March 8. Received March 8, 10.30 p.m. It is officially announced that the Governor. Sir Gerald Strickland, has been granted leave of absence from the middle of April to November 25th, when his term expiree.

EXTENSIVE MAIL THEFTS. SYDNEY, March 8. Extensive thefts from registered mails are reported, extending over several months and involving from £15,000 to £20,000. Despite a careful watch the bags were tampered with en route. Parcels by mail were extracted and stones substituted. The authorities are unable to solve the mystery.

N.S.W. POPULATION DECREASES. SYDNEY, March 8. The Government Statistician estimates the population of New South Wales last year at 1,846, a decrease of 22,066. THE WHEAT POOL. MELBOURNE, March 8. Official figures regarding the wheat pool in 1916 show that the wheat exported totalled 45,481,000 bushels, equivalent in flour to 6,715,000 tons. The net realisations of wheat were 11,762,000 bushels, and flour 1,670,000 tons. The average return. was 5s 2d a bushel; wheat converted into flour, 4s Hid; total return, 5s IJd. The surplus to go under the contract will give a net average of 4s 9 2-5 d per bushel.THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. MELBOURNE. March S. In the House of Representatives Mr Cook said no public servant, no matter how highly placed, would be considered as a representative of Australia, at the Imperial Conference.