AUSTRALIAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12905, 17 February 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

United Pros* Association—Per Electric

Tc3ep-a.pb--<sopTrigJit. MIXED IMPRESSIONS. MELBOURNE. Febroarv 16.

The Victorian Miniver for Agriculture iw m»cb impressed with hi* visit to New Zealand. He met prosperity and contentment everywhere. He think* m much <>f tbe ferroconcrete used in tbe Auckland harbour work* that he intends Io recommend it* nw» in the Port. Melbourne scheme. He frond tbe Agricultural Department in. New Zealand splendidly equipped. OLD AGE PENSIONS. SYDNEY, February 16. Tbe Federal Old Age Pensions Committee recommended the apportionment of £1,500,000. SIR- J. G. WARD ON RECIPROCITY. Sir -T. G. Ward. in. an interview, urge* that Ibeir *bould be reciprocity in article* of trade between Australia and New Zealand, with a* have initcrests in o»mmon. THE DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS. The Labour Grancil *»■ greatly alarmed at tbe proposal to allaw Dr Daaysz tx* inoculate rabbit* with a fatal diseuKC, pos «bly communicable to man. and nr<fefi tbe Government to prohibit it* introduction and di*weminatk«i. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The Federal Old Age Pension* Com-'miw-ion i* drafting il* reports. It will abandon tbe idea of makzng the pension. 'available to women at 60, and put tbem on tbe *ame footing a* m«n, making tbe ■age 65, and saving 1)400,000 a rear. . A MAO- DISPUTE. BRISBANE. Februaiy 16. The steamer Papuan refused to take mails for N.w Guinea without payment *4 a <certa«i poundage rate. The'mail* were lying alongside tbe venue! all might. The action j* ragarded im a trial <:f strength between the Federal Government and private ■owner*, where net mail contract has been made <t declared. After negotiations, the Papuan took tbe mails. An action i* pending against her captain for infringement of the Pwtial Act.

FATAL PLAGUE CASES. PERTH. F«brnajy 15. Two deatfo from are reported.