AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 827, 27 May 1910, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

. DEFENCE. Sydney, May 19. According to tho Victorian Minister for Defence (Senator Pearcc) the Federal Government is to be asked to deal at an early date with several important matters in defence. Ho proposed to submit for tlic consideration of the Cabinet some amendments of the Defence Act affecting compulsory service of the citizens 1 . 'J'liey would probably bo brought beforo Parliament' in the coming session. Until they ivero disposed of the the proclamation of tlio Act to apply to tlio defence of Australia would not be made. "Other matters of importance," he said, "were arrangements for a naval base or bases in Australian waters, the question of naval recruiting for strengthening tlio local forces, and the recommendation of an officer to tako the place of Colonel Bridges on tho Imperial staff in England as Australian attache." It is expected that Colonel Bridges will return to Australia early next month, and his advieo will be sought in the selection of the next officer to go to the Okl Country. The choice of a sit-o for the military staff college and other details in connection with that institution will bo left in abeyance until Colonel Bridges has been able to go into the matter thoroughly, as it is anticipated that lie will bring certain data hack with him relating to a military college. TO SECURE IMMIGRANTS. A State immigration mission to Europe, America, and Canada has just left Melbourne. It consists of tho Minister for Lands (Mr. M'Kdnzie) and the chairman of tlio Water Supply Commission (Mr. Elwood Mead). Tlio itinerary of the party has not been definitely arranged. Tliey will probably travel overland across tho Continent of Europe, and reach London at the beginning of July. Their stay in tho United Kingdom will extend over a month or six weeks, and then tlicy will proceed on to America and Canada. Mr. M'Konzie will bo back- in Victoria in about' six months, but Mr. Mead and Mr. Billis may not return until later. A largo supply of literature, ' maps, photographs, lantern slides, and moving pictures lias been prepared for the use of tho party. Tho object of tho delegation will bo to raako known the opportunities awaiting farmers in the irrigation districts of Vic-, toria, and to organise for land-seekers excursions to Victoria from America, and possibly from tho United Kingdom. Arrangements will probably be .made for the subsequent 'establishment of agencies, and a depot to assist in securing farmers for Victoria. Mr. M'Kenzio and Sir. Mead will tako with them plans' of between 70,000 and 100,000 acres of land in the irrigation districts, which aro available for settlers from abroad. CRUISER IN A GALE. Perhaps one of the roughest experiences H.M S. Cambrian has passed through sinco her arrival in Australian waters was that on her recent trip from Hobart to Sydney. Hardly had she got clear of tho Tasnianian coast when a westerly gale burst upon her. Tho storm was accompanied by hurricanelike squalls and a mountainous sea, : and tho warship rolled and pitched to ' a most alarming degree. Big seas swept over the cruiser, and made things extremely lively for all hands, as lioarly .every part of tho ship .was flooded. At times the cruiser rolled almost oil her , ■ beam ends, and for tho-safety of the vessel speed was reduced to six knots por hour, and she'was'kept away before wind and sea. During one heavy lurch, a 12-pounder on deck broke adrift, and took charge, smashing a skiff. The otlior boats . were also damaged. In addition to this, the main-top-mast snapped off, and brought down with it the wireless gear, the latter being subsequently rigged on tno mainyard. An officer of the ship remarked that the warship liad to fight every inch of her way against tho gale across the, Straits, and it was not until getting under the lee of tho New South Wales coast that tho weather moderated. ' The crcw describe tho seas as the worst they have experienced in this part of tho world. Tho Cambrian ran her full power trial after leaving Hobart, doing 18 knots per hour. When the galo burst, speed was brought down to 15 knots, and later to six knots. A. fleet record in wireless was established while in Tasmanian waters. When nearing Fremantle, the flagship Powerful received a message from H.M.S. Cambrian at Hobart, a distance of 1500 miles. Tho Cambrian requested to know whether the Powerful had any instructions for her, to which the Powerful sent a negative reply. "KING. OF MISSABOTTI." Toby, an aboriginal, said to bo 125 years old, died in the blacks' camp at Bowraville recently. Local rumour weaves quito a tale of romance about tho old man. Away back in the olden days when tlio penal system stretched its tentacles throughout tho land, a lady, the wife of a military captain, was stolen by tho blacks. The lady, according to tho romance, was an important personago, so tho Government of _the day offered a free pardon and £25 to tho convict or. ticket-of-leavo man restored her to her husband. At that timo tbero was a tribo of blacks at Nambucca Heads, with which somo of the tickot-of-leavo men at Trial Bay were acquainted. Two of these men, searching for the lady, camo across <i fow of tlio Nambucca tribe, and explained to them their mission. For a quantity of tobacco and rum two of the blacks consented to assist in tho search. Just at tho time a very largo corroboreo was being held at Never Never, in the Bellingen district, and to this festival the search party mado its way. When approaching tho scene they noticed the imprint of a white woman's foot on the sand near a small creek. Convinced that the object of the search was present at the corroboree, one of the tickot-of-leave-men disguised himself as an evil spirit and boldly confronting the "blacks (who were in hundreds), threatened jo afflict them with all kinds of plagues unless they handed over the white" woman to him. The terrible throat appalled the natives, and Toby, who was actiii"- as a kind of master of ceremonies, after a short consultation with tile others handed the woman over without further trouble. Tho lady was returned to her husband, and tlio tickets-leave men received pardons and the rest of the promised reward. From that dav Never Never was a place accursed amongst the blacks, and even to-dav there is not a black about the vicinity nor ivill one of them dare to go near it! MISS MIT.SOM tcachcs ladies and Rcn . tleincn tho healthy, _ natural up-to-ilato treatment for tlio hair. Your scalp was Riven you to grow hair, make it do its work. Cull and she will explain. Shampooing, and all treatments. Ilair workonly best work and quality used, Hairdressing taught. Egyptian Henna (Registered No. 5206) for Grey Hair—restores immediately. Perfectly harmless. Does not burn the hair, but gives life. Boware of imitalions. Consultation free. KING'S CHAMBERS, next Empiro Hotel Willis Street. ' Telephone 814. SUPERFLUOUS Hair destroyed, 2=. Gd Face and Body Massage, Shampooing' Manicuring, Pedicuring, Chiropody, Rheumatism and Nerve Troubles treated. Corpulency cured. Mrs. Hullcn, 208 Lambton Quay, opp. Kirkealdiu and Stains.