AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 61, 7 March 1912, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

fßy Filer'trie Telegraph—Copyright.) tUuitod Press Association.) (Received G, 1.G2 p.m.) Sydney, March G. Mr MeGowen .states that in the near future the present system of trains will he superceded by underground railways. Mr Griffiths, before the Increased Rents Commission, said the high .rents were chiefly due to an increase in the price of labour and materials. Tie present prosperity was not ephemeral or extravagant. Products from Australia received world-wide recognit-iep. The Commonwealth was merely beginning to realise the larger share of general prosperity. There might ho a modification of prosperity but novel anything like the 'burstsing of the land boom. Mr Wil son, trade commissioner fromi Hull, says he is greatly struck with the phenomenal progress made. Australian producers must wake up to the fact that another port besides tondon requires their produce. Otherwise a glut would spoil the market. There were thirty million people outside London’s area. .Dilstribution was hotter and more cheaply reached from Hull and other out-ports. Another country fire occurred at Moulniein. Three shops, a bakehouse and a private residence were destroyed. Tire lack of water hindered fire fighting. The damage is £4OOO. Sydney, March, 5. F. T). Browne, was remanded for a week on the charge of conspiring wit’ John MacPlicrsoii to defraud the Singer Sowing Machine Company of £l2. 740, a;nd also on a charge of .stealing £4l, the property of the same firm. Bail was allowed at £IOOO. In connection with the resumption of the Oceanic Steamship Company’.'; service to Australia, Mr. Sproul, a representative of the company received a cable from the vice-president announcing that Auckland is not to be included a.s a port cf call. Melbourne, March o. Seventy-eight thousand, nine hundred and sixty-four old-age pension' are in operation in the Commonwealth, representing an expenditure of £2 000,000.