AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 43, 15 February 1912, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydney, February 14. The pilot steamer abandoned the towing of tlie overturned schooner, and returned to Newcastle/for assistance. The epidemic of country fires continues. During the early morning an outin»ahji|Xß!lnt - rndnWt iUrCewSap'four shops and the Imperial Hotel being destroyed. The fire was discovered early, but there was no fire brigade, and it was impossible, to check the fire before the whole row was gutted. The damage is estimated at.£15,000, mostly covered by insurance. (Received 15, 9.15 a.m.) Sydney,, February 15. ' The report of trie Royal Commission on female and juvenile labour in shops and factories recommends a 44 hours’ week spread over/ six days and opposes the five-day week proposal. Mr Wade is leading a strong campaign against the Government's new taxation. The proposals, ho d'-dares, are unnecessary. Referring to the rapid rjso in rents he declar'd that Mr Griffiths, Minister for Works, seized the opportunity to ask an exorbitant rent of twenty-one .shillings for a cottage of three rooms and a kitchen.

An island steamer has reported that Capell’s missing boat lias arrived safely at Truk. Wireless received by the XTlimoroa en route to Hobart states that the wireless station at Macquarie Islands was damaged by a blizzard. All was well otherwise. No news had been received of the Mawson party. Melbourne, February 14.

The Federal Government are prepared to send a delegate to Canada to discuss reciprocity if desired, or to welcome a delegate here. The Postmaster-General declares there is no intention of establishing a wireless station at the Macquarie Islands to assist Dr. Mawson. The people had already contributed liberally to the expedition. Adelaide, February 14. The New South Wales Totalisator Commission considered a large quantity of evidence to-day. The president of the Young Men’s Christian Association opposed the machine on moral grounds, saying it tempted men to gamble where otherwise they would not. The president of the jockey club and the chairman of the racing club strongly supported the machine. The latter claimed it encouraged clean and fair sport. The prosperous condition of racing was largely duo to the tote. (Received 15, 1.5 p.m.) Adelaide, February 15. The managing editor of the newspaper Worker denies that the staff’s demands were conceded as a result of the strike. The decision awaits a conference with the Australian Journalists’ Association. The “Worker” would gladly pay the scale of wages then fixed. The Ministry resigns .to-day, t Perth, February 14. The Marconi Company has issued a writ against the Federal Government, asking for an injunction to restrain the Commonwealth from infringing the Company’s patent rights.