AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7937, 10 January 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE HEAT WAVE. Received January 9, 9.49 a.m. SYDNEY, January 9. Nino more deaths have tieou reported in various districts as the result of the heat wave. EXTENSIVE BUSH FIRES. SERIOUS LOSS OP PROPERTY AND STOCK. Received Jauuary 9, 9.49 a.m. SYDNEY, January 9. Bush Area swept 300 square miles in the Forbes district. Hundreds of miles of fencing, immense areas of grass, including 60,000 acres of the Orabel and Lake Oowal Stations, much property, and considerable numbers of stock iiave been destroyed. Settlers on the half-sbara principle are large sufferers, aa they lost 3000 bags of wheat and 1000 tons of hay. Fires have also caused great destruction in the Coudobolin, Young, ana Gundagai diotricts. PROHIBITION OF OPIUM. Received January 9, 10.4 a.m. PERTH, January 9. The prohibition of the importation of opiaui, except for medical purposes, has created consternation among Chinese importers with arriving consignments. At a meeting which was held it was decided to ask the Federal Government to enforce the prohibition gradually. It was urged that many Chinese were addicted to the use of opium, and if the supply were suddenly stopped these wreoked ones would seek solace in other vices. One of the speakers declared that owing to the use of opium by Chinese the Australian workers had found tbem strong antagonists only in market gardening and cabinetmaKing. They soon recovered from the effects of the opium, and if they spread through other trades before many years they would become, like th 9 Jews, a wealthy section of the community. (The prohibition of the importation of opium took effect from January 1. It will entail a loss of £70,000 per annum to the Federal revenue), OHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION. Reoeived January 9, 10.4 a.m. SYDNEY, January 9. Mr Carruthers, the State Premier, is consulting the manufacturers to ascertain if they will participate in the Christcburch Exhibition.

THE LINDFORS WILL CASE. Received January 10, 1.4 a.m. SYDNEY, January 9. In the Lindfors 'will conspiracy case to-day WilsoD, tbe solicitor who acted for Mrs Reimer, gave evidence that Burcher agreed to provide bis own and the witnesses expenses to New' Zealand and other costs, but after discovering that he would have to prove against the previous will he took bit> own proportion of the expenses, leaving Mrs Reimer to arrange for the payment of the witnesses. Mrs White agreed to accept £SO expenses, but she afterwards demanded half Captain Lindfors' estate, or £SOO. This caused a hitch, and next day Mrs Reimer sent for Wilson and confessed that the will was af orgery, alleging that Mrs White drew it out. He immediately cabled to Brookfleld and Sons, the New Zealand solicitors acting in the case, to that effect. Up till the time of the confession he had no doubt as to the genuineness of the will. Wilson declned to produce certain official correspondence regarding the case. FIRE ON A BOAT. Received January 10, 1.4 a.m. SYDNEY, January 9. Newcastle reports state that the German ship Werra is on fire. The outbreak occurred while the captain and crew wero attending the funeral of the mate of the Wulfln. The fire is now burning fiercely, but no details are to hand. BUTTER EXPORT COMMITTEE. Received January 9, 11.8 p.m. SYDNEY, January 9. The Butter Export Committee, with a view to placing the dairying industry on a proper footing and insuring full returns to suppliers, have resolved to recommend tbe discouragement of sales to London huyers or speculative agents and the withdrawal of support from selling agents known to traffic in consignmeus by au illegitimate process of buying; also the encouragement of full direct export by the factories. The Secretary has been instructed to take steps to assist the movement in England and to try to obtain legislation prohibiting the "faking" or adulteration of Australian butters. The Committee decided, in view of the scarcity of supply and the excellent prospects for butter in Britain, to raise the local price to ll>.<d.