AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9048, 25 March 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CABLE NEWS.

i United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph . Copyright.

AMERICA'S PACIFIC FLEET. AUSTRALIA'S INVITATION. Recieved March 24, 10.22 am. MELBOURNE, March 24. Mr Deakin (Federal Prime Minister) has received an official acceptance of the Commonwealth's invitation to the American fleet. QUEBEC TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. Received March 24, 10.28 p.m. MELBOURNE, Mnrch 24. The Canadian Government has invited Mr A. Deakin, Federal Premier, to represent Australia at the Quebec tercentenary celebrations. After communicating with the Earl uf Dudley, Mr Deakin eplied regretting that his Pariamentary duties would preclude him visiting Canada, but he had arranged for the Earl of Dudley to represent the Commonwealth at the celebrations. SHIP ASHORE. Received March 24, 10.22 a.m. SYDNEY, March 24. The steamer Hampstead, from Hawaii, reports that a large sailing ship is ashore on the Middlecon Reef. No name wasdiscernible. SMUGGLING OPIUM. TWO ARRESTS. Received March 24, a.m. BRISBANE, March 24. Two saloon passengers by the China Navigation Co.'s steamer Changsha were arrested for having 141 tins of smuggled opium in their possession, valued at £950. COINAGE AND CARTRIDGES. MAKING USE OF A MINT. Received March 24, 10.22 a.m. MELBOURNE, March 24. The Federal Government is considering a scheme for utilising the proposed mint for silver and bronze coinage for the complete manufacture of cartridges. The working of the mint would not fully occupy the hands, and as the brass cups from which the cartridge cases are drawn have to be imported, it is proposed to add the manufacture of these cups to the work of the staff of the mint. The profits on the coinage of silver and bronze is estimated at fifty thousand per annum. This would more than cover the cost of producing twenty million cups and twenty million cupronickel bullet envelopes.