AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 180, 30 July 1909, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

(Received 11.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day, Mr Deakin has promised to look into a statement that a party of Maoris propose to come from Hawke's Bay to engage in shearing in the Monarso district, New South Wales. Mr. Deakin to-day indicated that the appointment of a High Commissioner would be proceeded with without delay. He proposes the appointment of a council iof advice in connection with the Commisi sionership, which Lord Jersey, Lord | Northcote and other prominent men in London with large Australian interests will be asked to join. He also indicated j that the Defence Bill would be dealt with at an early date. SYDNEY, this day. The Inebriates Bill, introduced by the Government, contains a provision whereby a man may enter into voluntary recognaisances to abstain from drink for fixed periods. The Government intends to introduce a Defamation Bill, to give further protection to newspapers. A provision is made relieving newspapers from the accumulation of punishment where a libel has been circulated through a number of newspapers. The Court is to have power to consolidate a series of actions so that the whole may be tried by one jury, which shall assess the total damages. Relief is also given where the defendant can prove that damages have been given against another defendant for a similar libel. Some curious rock-carvings have been unearthed at Woollahra Point, Sydney Harbour, which indicate that Spaniards camped on the spot from 1595 to 1597. Advices have been received announcing that Admiral Sir Richard Poore has been created a K.C.B. The Government has been advised that a large party of wealthy American tourists will reach Sydney at the end of November, and will subsequently visit New Zealand. The Intelligence Department is making special arrangements to cater for the visitors. The Colonial Sugar Company is purchasing pigeons for Fiji, where they are to be trained and used as a medium of communication between the company's various plantations there. ,