COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2736, 15 February 1910, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN QUEENSLAND. United Press Association —Copyright BRISBANE, Feb. 13. A Are destroyed a number of business places at Killarncy, the damage amounting to £7OOO. JTvillarney is a small town 197 miles s.w. from Brisbane.]

CANADA V. AUSTRALIA

MELBOURNE, Feb. 13

Referring to Mr Borden’s statement that Canada was doing more than Australia in the matter of Empire defence, Mr. J. Cook, Commonwealth Minister of Defence, states that 5s per head was only about half as much as Australia proposed to spend on sea and land. Mr Deakin, the Premier, states that he fails to see what -Canada is doing more than Australia.

WRECK OF A TUG

SYDNEY, Feb. 13

The tug Port Jackson was totally wrecked last night south of Catherine Hill Bay. The vessel was returning to Sydney after towing the Manurewa to Newcastle. She ran into a southerly blow, broke down, and drifted ashore. The crew were landed safely. The Port Jackson was built in Dunedin.

MR. DEAKIN OPENS THE ELEC-

TION CAMPAIGN

(Received February 15, 1.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 14.

Mr. Deakin opened his Federal campaign at a monster meeting in the Town Hall to-night. He traversed Mr. Fisher’s speech, and reiterated that the present Government’s naval unit was in nowise copied from that of the late Government.

OVERSTOCKING IN VICTORIA

MELBOURNE, Feb. 14

The Government Superintendent of Exports states that in 1908 a million and a-half sheep were lost in Victoria through the practice of overstocking. He estimates the carrying capacity of the (State will take between 12 and 13 million. By the end of December next there will be an increase of a miljlion and a-half, bringing the total far beyond the feed supply, and there /will he another loss of a million and a-half. He attributes the increase to the anxiety of farmers to get as much wool a s possible owing to the high prices ruling.