AUSTRALIAN ITEMS

Waikato Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 3240, 26 July 1906, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS

CLOSER SETTLEMENT. Sydney, July 24. The Farmers’ Annual Conference opened to day. The Chairman, in bia address, stated that be bad the assurance of the Minister for Lands that half•&-million would be placed on the estimates, this year for land resumption. He regarded the amount as “only a drop in tha bucket.” Why could they not fot* low the example of New Zealand and borrow five millions for the purpose, and thus provide at once sufficient, and for people, instead of standing by and watching them leave for Canada, Argentine and other places 1 He hoped to see the State Bank Bill pass this session, it was quite certain that until tha farmers made up their mindl to pat practical men into Parliament they would not get satisfactory consider** ation for their interests. There was plenty of room for a farmers’ parly ' , in the Houses.

GOLDFIELDS ROBBERIES Pebth, July 24. The detective detailed to inquire into allegations that wholesale robberies of gold were going on in Kalgoorlie states that bis investigations prove that hundreds of thoa-L sands of ounces are stolen annually, and that there were men at Kalgoorlie with an enormont banking account, and who lived in the lap of luxury solely by the means of stolen gold. There were others, said the detective, who held dummy leases and banked hundreds of ounces of gold which never came from snob leases, but were obtained in an illegal manner. Warden Dowley also presented a report, in which be does not think that much gold is stolen, in which opinion be is backed op by mine managers.

THE CRIFFEL-BDNINYONG COLLISION. Sydney, July 24. The marine enquiry into the collision in Sydney Harbour recently between the steamer Buniuyongand the barque Grille), has found that the master of the tug which had'f' the Criffel in tow, the pilot, and the master of the barque, and tba captain of the Boninyong, were all at fault in the matter, did not call upon any of thinrto “show cause” on Che grounds that the captain of the steamer made a not unnatural mistake, and tha methods of towage adopted on tha other side were within the r * regulations. BLOWN TO SEA. Melbourne, July 24. Captain Carlson snd two aailora of the schooner Enterprise, who were blown to sea on Sunday in the ship’s boat, off Flinders, are safe. > The boat drifted until it struck a reef on Phillip Island, and the men landed there. When rescued they i were in a half-frown condition, |