AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8524, 17 January 1906, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

4 — United Press Association — By Eleotrio Telegraph — Copyright. (Received January 17, 10 a.m.) VICTORIAN COMMERCE. MELBOURNE, January 17. Victoria's imports for last year are valued at £22,120,000,. an increase of £2,016,000 over the previous year. The exports, which, however, do not include the inter-State transfers, amount to £13,999,000. . THE HOME RULE RESOLUTIONS. The Governor-General declines to transmit to the King the petition against the Home Rule resolutions recently adopted by the federal Parliament, on the ground that the petition is controversial matter. A BUSINESS OPINION. The Chamber. of Commerce discussed the Premier's suggestion for an international exhibition, and decided that owing to the large financial loss usually 'sustained on such exhibitions being out of all proportion to the benefits derived by the oountry, it was not advisable to hold one at present. DUPLEX TELEGRAPHY. BRISBANE, January 17. The adoption of direct duplex working from the Pacifio cable at Southport to Sydney is greatly expediting the work over the cable. THE CAPITAL SITE QUESTION. SYDNEY, January 17. The Lord Mayor will preside at a mass meeting, in the Town Hall, tonight, to protest against the treatment of the State by the Federal Parjiament, regarding, the capital site and other matters. NEW SOUTH WALES COAL" OUTPUT. NEWCASTLE, January 17. The ooal output last year was 3,481,000 tons, of the value of £1,377,800, compared /with 2,951,000 tons, of the value of £1,277,378, the previous year. LOCAL INDUSTRIES. LAUNCESTON, January. 17. A conference of the Federal Council and the Chambers of Manufacturers has opened. The president, in his address, deplored the prejudice against Australian-made goode, and urged the necessity for fostering local industries. WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S TRADE. PERTH, January 17. The exports of the State last year amounted to £8,979,000, nearly a million below the previous year. The reduction represented mainly the falling off in the gold export, which last year was £7,092,000, compared with £8,420,000 the previous year. HYDROPHOBIA. A dog attacked and badly mutilated a man's face, and afterwards the man behaved violently, barked like a dog, and bit. He has been placed under restraint.