— :_» Intense Heat in Now South Wales. <fif Bleotric Telegraph— Copyright.) (Per United Press Association.) I Sydnbt, December 28, The heat wave is unabated, and is intense in West Bourke, where the thermometer registered 114, and at Wilcanni* it was 113. Many other planes' recorded over 100 in the shade. Meiboukitb, Deoember 28. Steady rain was falling at midnight. Adjiaibe, December 29. After a protraoted spell of intense heat heavy general rain has set in.
COLONIAL DEFENGE.
(By Bleotrio Telegraph—Copyright.) (Per United Press Association.) SroN£7, December 29. The Minister of Defence has received the report of tha fonforonce of military com. danders recently held at Melbourne. It contains recommendations in regard to the Federal defenoo of King George's Sound, Thursday Island, Port Darwin, and Roe buck Bfiy, and the federal drilling of troops. It strongly favours the establish, ment of a cordite factory ia the colonies, and suggests the necossity of protecting the cables against hostile Powers.
RECIPROCITY.
* (By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright.) (Per United Press Association.) Melbotibnßj December 29. Premier Turner has received a cable from Premier Seddon agreeing to hold tho pro posed intercolonial reciprocity conference at Hobort at the time of the Federal Coun-. oil meeting, and fixing February 2nd as the dtte ol the conference. Besides inter colonial reciprocity, other nuttera likely to be disouised are tho terms of the continu ance of the subsidy to the Auxiliary Squadron, federal defenoe, holding a con vention in London between representatives of the Imperial Government and those of all British colonies witb. a view of binding the Kmpire More oloselr, and finally the celebration of the completion of the sixtieth year of the Queen's reiga.
DEATH OF CHIEF POSTMASTER GOODMAN.
