AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10680, 29 January 1913, Page 4

AUSTRALIA.

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—'Copyright (Received January 29, 10 a.m.) SERIOUS FIRES. SYDNEY, January 29. Serious fires, duo to the hot weather, in the Onkdale district, destroyed a number of farm buildings, a large quantity.of grass and damaged several homesteads. Speaker Willis was among the losers. PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL COMPANY. Mr Gordon Wesclie, Australian superintendent of tho Peninsular and Oriental Company, says that there is no intention whatever on the part of his company of amalgamating with any other. UNION BANK OF "AUSTRALIA. The cablo advises that the Union Bank , has declared a dividend of £1 Jss per share and a bonus of 10s, which, together, equal a dividend of 14 pelcent : £43,000 was brought forward, and £50.000 was added ,to the reserve fund, which now totals £1,450,000. 'FLOODS. BRISBANE, January 29. The, German sugercane growers at Baffle Creek are, heavy losers by floods. It rained for forty-eight hours, and so fiercely that it was impossible to see ahead at midday more than a few yards. Twenty miles of country was inundated and maiiy crops were destroyed. i THE GOTHIC'S IMMIGRANTS. FEEMANTLE, January 29. The Gothic has arrived from London with 1400 immigrants. There was an outbreak of measles on the voyage and five children died. A FATAL FIRE. LAUNCESTON, January 29. The Royal Hotel, Latrobe, has been destroyed by fir&. Councillor ( John Roche perished in the flames.