THE COMMONWEALTH.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16162, 16 March 1918, Page 7

THE COMMONWEALTH.

—:—4 SYDNEY NEWS.. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, Maxell 15. Two arrests liave been made in connexion with the opium smuggling case. The legislative Council has passed tho Arbitration Amendment Bill. ' The Assembly has adjourned till Tuesday next to enable the Governor to consult with the leading members. SHIPPING REQUISITIONED. MELBOURNE, March 15. Mr TV. M. Hughes has announced that the Government is requisitioning all coastal shipping, which is to he run as one concern under the direction of the Controller of Shipping. A regulation empowers the Federal Government to requisition any prescribed goods.

THE QUEENSLAND CYCLONE. TOWNSVILLE, March IS. During the cyclone the Rev. Kenny, superintendent of the Hull River Aboriginal Mission Station, and his daughter were hilled and his wife seriously injured. The mission buildings were entirely destroyed. Three blacks, who tvere taking refuge beneath, were imprisoned, and wore dug out injured. The railways in the northern districts ■were badly disorganised by the cyclone damage and the floods. THREE HUNDRED DESTITUTE. (Received March 15th, 10.10 p.m.) BRISBANE, March 15. The cyclone at Innisfail raged for 17 hours. Houses collapsed like packs of cards, causing most of the deaths. Three hundred are destitute. Women and children are sheltering in the Innsifail shire hall. * CONTROLLER OF SHIPPING. (Received March 15th, 10.10 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 15. Rear-Admiral Clarkson lias been appointed Controller of Shipping under the new Board of Management of winterState Shipping, under which all coastal vessels will bo commandeered by the Government. British "Bluo Book" rates in order to relieve vessels for oversea trad.?, and freights and fares will probably be raised ten per cent.