AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 17, 3 January 1912, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

MR. HENNIKER HEATON. (Received 3, 9.50 a.m.) Fremantle, January 3. Mr. Henniker Heaton and his wife are passengers by the Mantua. COMMONWEALTH POPULATION. (Receii r ed 3, 9.50 a.m.) Melbourne, January 3. The census returns disclose that there are 2,313,035 males and 2,141,950 females in the Commonwealth. CATTLE TICK. (Received 3, 8.15 a.m.) Sydney, January 3. Fresh discoveries of cattle tick have been made in the Tweed Riveh district. STEAMER RATES RAISED. (Received 3, 8.15 a.m.) Sydney, January 3. The Union S.S. Company has increased the passenger fares between Australia and Tasmania 5 per cent. SIX SHOPSDESTROYED. (Received 3, 8.15 a.m.) Sydney, January 3. A fire at Murrumburrah destroyed six shops in the business'.centre., INCREASED RATEABLE VALUE. (Received 3, 8.15 a.m.) Melbourne, January 3. Rateable jjhoperty in Melbourne -in, the past ye'ar. increased by £4,7*70,000.* v PETROLEUM IN PAPUA. (Received 3, 9.50 a.m.) Sydney, January 3. An important discovery of petroleum is reported on the Vailola River, Papua. There are indications that the deposits are ‘very large. BIG TRAIN TRAFFIC. L' v/o >V )i, w E-i': Sydney,'^gnuary'2. Monday’s train traffic was 119,000 more than for the day’s traffic the previous year. WELCOME THUNDERSTORMS. '

f . , Melbourne, January 2. Thunderstorms have visited the greater part of the State, and greatly improved the prospects of the maize crops, which in many districts were regarded as a failure. A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. Melbourne, January 2. A little girl sprang from a train while travelling at full speed at Richmond station, and was uninjured. QUEENSLAND’S TRADE. Brisbane, January 2. The Queensland oversea imports for the year are '£4,460,584, as compared with* £3,857,740 for the previous year. The exports were £4,933,912, as compared with £4,843,056 for last year. NEGLECTED CHILDREN. (Reef ved 3, 10.30 a.m.) Sydney, January 3. The Government has approved Sir Chas. Mackillan, visiting Europe and America, to equnire into the treatment of neglected children witli a view to future legislation.

GOOD SEAM OF COAL. (Received 3, 10.30 a.m.) Sydney, January 3. As a result of an analysis a six feet six inches seam of coal lias been struck in the Government colliery, which is satisfactory beyond expectations. A CASE OF SMALLPOX. (Received 3, 10.30 a.m.) 'Port Darwin, January 3. The steamer Taiyuan, from China, has a case of smallpox aboard.

THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. (Rec vsi 3, 10.30 a.m.) Brisbane, January 3. Giving evidence before the Sugar Commission, Dr. Gibson, speriutendent of the sugar experimental stations, advocated the employment of white labour. He was satisfied that whites could do all the labour required in the industry.