LATE TELEGRAMS

Waikato Independent, Volume VII, Issue 461, 16 January 1908, Page 5

LATE TELEGRAMS

THE NEW TARIFF. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, This Day. Ths Times states that enquiries as to the effect of the new tariff in cheapening prices show that on some articles the consumer will get no reduction, owing to an advance in ths price at Home. Maiz ena, cornflour, infants’ patent food, and cotton and silk goods have all gone up, and linen goods have advanced, but light cotton goods will benefit. The remission of the sugar duty, an item alone of £205,000, and dried fiuits £44,000, directly benefits the consumer, prices being lowered to the extent of the lessened duty. Confectioners and jam makers have, however, not yet lowered their prices. The local boot trade is also reported to benefit by the tariff, and the demand for American boots has sensibly decreased. DISASTROUS GRASS FIRE. SETTLERS RUINED. Christchurch, This Day. Extensive grass fires have occurred on the Hoiorata Estate. It is estimated the fire destroyed thirty or forty thousand acres of grass and many new settlers will be ruined. One settler lost 700 sheep and three horses. BUSH FIRES. Palmerston North, This i)ay.' Reports from Pohangina indicate that the danger from bush fires is increasing. Settlers are preparing to forsake their dwellings. The fire is reported to be raging through a big stretch of bush in the forest reserve.