COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2578, 5 February 1910, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

H.M.S. POWERFUL

United Press Association' —Copyright

SYDNEY, Feb. 4. JIM.S. Powerful leaves on the 16th on a visit to New Zealand.

TELEGRAPHIC ENGINFERS

MELBOURNE, Feb. 4

The Postmaster-General has given instructions to- carry out the recommendations of the recent conference of telegraph’c engineers. Steps will be immediately taken to improve the equipment. Separate circuity will be provided at night for newspaper work. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. A fire at Rutherglen destroyed several business premises in the principal street. The damage amounts to £IO,OOO.

AUSTRALIA’S OVERSEA TRADE. The oversea trade of the Commonwealth last year shows that imports totalled £51,116,000 compared with £49,786,000 for the preceding year. Exports amounted to £63,311,000 in the previous year. The latter included gold £14,332,000 as against £8,950,000 last year.

THE IMPERIAL LAND SCHEAIE. Alembers of the State Cabinet say they are not inclined to take seriously Sir Reginald Enoch’s proposal to acquire lands in the overseas dominions. The Premier regards Sir .J. AY. Taverner’s suggestion that the colonies he represented in the House of Lords as a joke.

IRRIGATION IN VICTORIA. It is estimated that under the Arictorian irrigation scheme the State will have a million acres made workable, which will support 200,000 more persons than are already supported on the area.

WEST AUSTRALIAN PREMIER-VISITS-LONDON.

PERTH, Feb. 4. The Premier leaves on a visit to London next week. Air AA r ilson will be A ct i ng-P re m i e r.

A BARQUE’S NARROW ESCAPE

(Received February 5, 1.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 4

A four-masted barque from the west coast of South America, narrowly escaped striking the Middleton Reef. For eight days, while approaching the coast, she was buffeted by incessant gales. AYhen day broke she was close on to the reef, and barely had time to swing the ship clear.