COMMONWEALTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 8

COMMONWEALTH.

The arrest and imprisonment of Peter Bowling and Ms colleagues, seems to have taken the sting out of the coal strike, and some of the men are now talking about resuming work. The Newcastle mineowners, who at first stood out when the Board was appointed, have informed the Wages Board of their desire to come before the Court, and have submitted a list of claims which is very comprehensive. The claims generally demand a reduction upon the present rates of payment. The reductions asked may be fairly gauged by taking any of the first-class seams on the basis of borehole seams. The hewing rate proposed is 3/10 per ton, when it is declared that the selling price of coal is 11/, with a rise or fall of 4d for every 1/ of alteration in the selling price. For working pillars the rate is 3d less, while for tops the claim is that the average earnings be compiled, and a rate struck to give 11/ a day. On the Maitland seam, for pick miners, the rate to be 2/2 per ton, with a selling price of 11/, with a decrease of 2d for every 1/ the price falls. The wages of machine men to be fixed at 11/ a day. The rates proposed for filling dirt and working wet and deficient places are considerably lower than those demanded by the miners. The owners demand eight hours at the face. Wednesday next was fixed as the date for the miners to file their replies to the owners' claims. The damage done at Brewarriria, N.S.W,. by a terrific cyclone amounted to £10.000. Unless there be further rain the danger from floods has passed. Dr. Carlo Fiaschi and a nurse named Eleanor Young have been committed for trial at the Coroner's Court for the murder of a girl named Nightingale at Lithgow. Fiaschi. in evidence, stated that he performed an operation for hemorrhoids and the patient died, from shock

and Bright's disease. The medical evidence showed that there was no indication of an operation for hemorrhoids, while an important organ was missing. Bail was refused.