AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1476, 7 February 1903, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

INDIGNANT QUEENSLANDERS. Biusbanl, February 5 AT a meeting „f the Climbers of bommeree the members hotly condemned the Federal tariff, and what was termed Mr. Kingston's brutal and insulting admin,oration of the Customs Department. In order to show their disgust it was decided to ignore Mr Kingston's visit to Brisbane. THE MINISTERIAL SCANDAL. Melbourne, February o. rfce committee appointed to inquire into the charges against Mr McKenzie the es-Minister for Lands, h*»<. completed taking evidence. Mr Mc7. Til exuuj,l , lecl "t Jeugth, denied that the usual practice of dealing with applications for leases had been departed from in the case of cither himself or his son. THE VINEYARD MURDEB. Tl ,r * ERTn > February 6. The man Maillot was one of a party who visited Mr Lauffer's. The latter refused to sell wine after beinseverely maltreated by men who deliberately shot stones at him. There fataTThot?° Übt " t 0 Wh ° fl «* *° ADMIRALTY'S ERROR. Adelaide, Fobmarv 6 At a meeting of the Marine Board the harbourmaster reported that the lighthouse at Wonga .Shoal, near the entrance to a part of tho river, wag J6O feet from the position marked ou the Admiralty charts. The Adiraltv's attention was called to this error. REFORM BILL. Melbouune, February 5. «J t ,u Sl^ a f lva Gou " cil has struck out of the Reform Bill the claus* oroviding for the dissolution of "the Council when the Bill became law and carried an amendment fixing the number of members at 42, instead of FIRE. Sydney, February 6. As the result of a fire at the anion Company's wharf, a stack containing five or six hundred bales of straw was severely damaged by fire and water. THE WOMEN HOUSE-BREAKER. Melbourne, January 6. The woman Kate Porter, whose cool dealings as a burglar have been already cabled, has now been committed for trial. THE PLAGUE. Brisbane, February 6. Three plague-infected rats have beeu discovered in the city. DROUGHT RELIEF FUND. Melbourne. February 6. The drought relief fund amounts to over £17,000.;