AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 25, 24 July 1911, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

STRIKE AS A PROTEST. By Oabto—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, July 22. The employees of the Electrolytic Company at Port Kembla have struck as a protest against the removal of an employee. Three hundred men are rendered idle. THE MEAT TRUST. Sydney, July 22. Mr. Hughes declares that the meat trust is not confined to New South Wales. The only way to deal with the trust would be to vest the required powers in the Federal Government. MINERS' UNIONS. Sydney, July 22. The Miners' Delegate Board has agreed to the amalgamation of the colliery employees' unions, the idea being to secure a general federation of coalminers of the Commonwealth. SYDNEY POST OFFICE. Sydney, July 22. The Federal Government proposes to resume the whole block from Martin Place to King street and from George street to Pitt street with a view to extending the General Post Office. SYDNEY HARBOR FERRIES, Sydney, July 22. The Ferry Company has offered to sell to the Government Nelson's Point and Lavender Bay services. SHIPPING CLAIM SETTLED. Brisbane, July 22. The action in which the British India Co. claimed £IOO,OOO damages against the Government for alleged negligence of the pilot in connection with the stranding of the steamer Waipawa, has been settled by the payment of a comparatively small sum.

BUILDING- TRADE ACTIVITY. Sydney, July 22. As evidence of the activity of the building trade-in New South Wales it is stated that last year the State imported over 50,000,000 feet of timber, including a large quantity from New Zealand. It is expected this year to import 05,000,000 feet. THE LITHGOW STRIKE. Sydney, July 22. Mr. Hoskins has asked Mr. Beeby, Minister for Labor, to act as mediator in the Lithgow strike. Mr. Beeby has accepted the position and suggests the reinstatement of all the men on the conditions existing at the time of the suspension of work pending arbitration on the claim for increased pay, the men to start work on Monday morning. TIMELY RAI-NS, Sydney, July 22. Timely rains have greatly improved the crop prospects, especially in the case of wheat. It is likely that a largely increased area will be sown in some districts. In moving the adoption of the report at the annual meeting of the City Bank, the chairman said that late rains had pretty well assured that next season would "be good. FIRE AT A MILL. Brisbane, July 22. Cormack's mills were gutted by fire to-day. The fire was prevented from spreading to the timber stacks. The damage is estimated at £SOOO.