AUSTRALIAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12913, 2 March 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright. RAIN IN NORFOLK ISLAND. SYDNEY, March 1. Heavy rain has fallen in Norfolk Island. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. The Hon. James Ashton, Minister of Lands, in a speech, said that the gentinient among all classes of the community in" favour of closer settlement was so strong tbafc holders of large areas will not be able to keep them out much longer. Steps were sure to be taken, whether of a quiet, pacific character, or of a charter «oiag somewhat beyouds the bounds of moderation, to bring about a multiplication of settlers in close proximity to icountv towns and the main trunk railway ! lines " He hoped the Government would be able to facilitate the work of subdivision, but after all the purchase of land was not the best inetho ,icf promoting closer settlement. It involved tie Crown in great risks. If the Crown made a mistake in purelhviug a large estate, either in regard to locality or value, theie was ahvavs a chaace of the land remaining o.i its hands. JAPANESE SQUADRON FOR AUSTRALIA. The Japanese squadron, which is- about to visit Australia, will consist of the same vessels which visited the colonies two years ago, and will be under the. command of R*arAdmiral Shimnmura. who was Admiral Togo's Chief of Staff during the Ja-paiie>e-Knssian war. METHODIST CONFKRKNXE. MELBOURNE, .March 1. The Methodist Confcrscce has opened, the Rev. Mr Wheeti, of Rniaswick. being president.