GOLD-BEARING REEF.

DISCOVERY IN CENTRAL t AUSTRALIA. (Received Jnne 19th, p.m ) ; ADELAIDE, June 1&, -l A message from the Barrier advise* that a prospecting party which left frycaravan six months ago # report® the discovery of & hie lode with trac6* of gold.' The reef is located 160 miles north-east of Tennant's Greek in Central Australia. DISABLED STEAMER, A DIFFICULT TOW. (Received Jane 19th,-5.5 ADELAIDE, JunelS. -The tag Uco with the disabled steamer Milluna (which,broke ber teil shaft) in tow reached Semaphore-.ottSat-nrday all well. The tow wi» a difficult one owing to heavy sea« aftd;th»'3l«lluna's light trim. The of -7(J& miles took seven days, 20 hours. 4 FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE. ; RAISING entrance standard. • . MELBOTONE, Jq«« 9. The importance of raising the age and increasing the educational standard of Civil Service candidates in order - that the Commonwealth might make more use of those now receiving second- - ary and university education, was emphasised by a deputation representing the Headmasters' Conference of Aastralia, which to-day waited on '.the- /- Assistant Treasurer (Mr Stanley Bruce). The which was held in. private, was received by Mr Bruce in the absence of the Erime Minister (Rt. Hon: J. A. Lyons). The deputation, it is understood/ pointed out' that' boys who stayed at school until they Wfcre . aged about 18, got the best that fee " school could give them. The present qualification for entry to thb Civil Set-. ' vice was so low as to make it easy for younger boys to appropriate the positions available. •• The Indian and" the English' Civil Service examinations. were of a vsry high standard. It was not suggested that there should be an- improved standard for the whole of the service, but that there should be opportunity for the entrance of boys of ansta Tiding _ ability and university students! - In. this country, where education was ptoi vided practically free for boys who j attended State schools, high schools, and the university, it was strange that the Government services made n« attempt to employ those upon whom money had been spent. Mr Bruce, it is understood, intimated 1 that any proposal the members of the I deputation might have to. submit Would J be examined very carefully by the Commonwealth Publie Serviee Board.