AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 148, 23 June 1906, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

» COMMONWEALTH. Referring to the maternity homes and nursing regulations in this colony, the Sydney Mail says :—ln: — In New Zealand the nurses, are registered by the State, and can only bo trained in the public hospitals, and there are stringent regulations as to the requirements ,of trained and certificated staffs. for private hospitals. On this aido there are too many cases in which private hospitals are largely staffed by probationers. The Chinese merchants of the Commonwealtli (says the Sydney Morning Herald) are just how displaying mnch activity in Bhe preparation of a memorial praying for She abrogation of certain C»mmonweaith legislation directed against them. Tho want of unanimity as to tke^form in which tJj© memorial shall be framed and to whom ifc shall be presented are stumbling blocks 'to Immediate action, and have resulted in. several animated meetings during the past few weeks. The i New South Wales Chinese Merchants' Association is at present waiting the outcome of a, meeting of the Melbourne Chinese before announcing the course of action it purposes fcoltake. It is a part of secret, but none tho less reliable history (says "Woomera" in tho Australasian) that the invasion of Australia was at least four times contemplated. In 1856 .Russia, had a project for destroying British commerce from her then North American possession, Alaska, and landing 1 , a force in Melbourne Again, in 1859, when France threatened war over ' the Orsini bomb business, part of the plans provided for the landing of 10,000 men in Australia. Germany, when demanding part of New Guinea, asked for a slice of North Australia, and threatened to come and take it. FTnatlv, in 1886 the British Government informed all the- Premiers of Australia that Russia contemplated a dasb at New Zealand. , The centralisation of the Customs administration in Melbourne has caused great inconvenience in Sydney, the principal commercial part of the Commonwealth. The smallest 'matter of departmental "routine had to pass through the headquarters channel. The Sydney Chamber of Commerce mode strong representations to the GovernmenE upon this subject, and Sir William Lyne replied that the maintenance of uniformity rendered a certain amount of centralisation imperative, but he promised by means of a large use of the telegraph wire to facilitate matters, and to leave discretion with the Sub-Collector of Customs and his officials whenever possible. This modification of the original drastic regulations was a distinct improvement, but it left much to be desired. Now the' Minister by raising the status of the New South Wales Sub-Collector hopes to perfect administrative arrangements as far as possible. At a recent meeting of the Executive Council Mr. Lockyer was appointed Assistant Comptroller-General. It is confidently expected that tnis step will go a long way towatds removing the remaining causes of complaint. It seems a pity (says tho Sydney Mail) that -we cannot 'impress the size of this great continent on the outside world, but probably few of our own schoolboys have a very graphic notion of it either. Out* 1 is a "land of magnificent distances, but you only realise the fact when you try to traverse them in an up-country coach. Mere extent does not touch the imagination ; 'xaa-ny of otrr paddocks are as big as an English county, but then the county is so full aud the paddock is pretty well empty. This is just what Mr. Fsvenc complains about in the maps. No donbt it is shocking to find most of our maps ridiculously out of date, and ib is good patriotism to fill them — at any rate with names. But this does not help us out of our barrenness of natural features, which is the main cause of our size being insignificant. Unfortunately, nature made Australia so many years before there were any Australians that it was impossible to consul us. A conscientious geographer would have piled a. Mount Everest on the htart of the continent or given us the biggest inland sea in the world ; or improved the Murray into a, Mississippi. As it is, wo have to be content with our lot — size and nothing else. Perhaps we shall never impress the world with our size until we grow a big man — which seems the last thing we are able to do. NEW SOUTH WALES. • A drunken "lark" at Fifield in the Condoblin district last February, has just ' been investigated, with the result that j five men have been committed for trial for wilful murder. The following was tho coroner's verdict : — " I find that James Cameron was placed in a bag ! apinst his will by William Jnmea M'Namara. Robert Henry Hempson, Edward Stanley Bourke, James Bourke, and John Dabinett Ferris, and that, while Cameron was in the bag, in his ! effort* to yxtricate himself, he ignited some matches that were in his pocket and set fire to his clothes, by reason of which j his body was so badly burned that h© died; and I further find that M^Namara and the other mentioned accused did feloniously and wilfully kill and slay i James Cameron." Notwithstanding the surveillance exercised by the police over " two-up schools,' these institutions continue to carry on business under the very nose of the authorities. When constables were first stationed outside the doors of these places, it was thought that such a procedure would speedily bring • about the breakine up of the "schools." It certainly looked as if such would be tho | case, for one place actually did suspend operations, while another was reported to bo on its last legs. 'However, the scare soon woro off, and all the old establishments aro again in full swing. Asked why they cannot put san end to the " schools," the police state that owing > to the wietched state of the law dealing with tho subject they are practically powerless. An unusual application for the withdrawal of a divorce case because of religious scruples on the part of petitioner was made at Sydney on the 13th inst. The petitioner was Henry John Ealcston, and Peter Joseph Moore was joined as; co-respondent. The affidavit of tho petitioner stated that his reason for applying for leave to withdraw was after mature consideration ho had come to the conclusion that as all parties were Ropian Catholics it would be against his religious convictions to go on with the case. Mr. Justice Simpson said that ho should hnvo recollected that fact when he brought tho suit. His Honour did not think leave should be given to withdraw the petition. If it were withdrawn another petition could be filed, and respondent ana co-respondent would bo again harassed. The petition was discussed with costs. Mr. Onvruthers, Premier of New South Wales, hns received ft letter from Mr. Donkin, dated the sth inst., stating, that, us a result of the consideration which hns been given to the question of extending the "conventional tariff of Japan," to the wholo of Australia, the Imperial Government hns been asked to negotiate with tho Japanese Government, and ascertain upon what terms tho benefits of the revised tariff may be secured for the Commonwealth. Mr. Suttor, the state commercial agent, has on several occasions referred to the trade advantages which Queensland enioved in

Japan over tho whole of the other states, and Mr. Carruthers has for some time been urging the Prime Minister to take steps to ensure equal advantages to the rest- of Australia. Some remarkable statements were made on the 7th insfc. in Sydney by one William Cooper, who had brought a suit for restitution of conjugal rights against his wife, Sarah Cooper. He told the court that his troubles arose owing to his wife becoming a Seventh-day Adventisr. In 1897 she came home one night and said it was a sin to eat meat, eggs, and butter. The preacher had told her so. He remarked that he did not caxe what the preacher had eaid ; he was going to have them. She also said the preacher had told her it was wrong to have children, and that the world was coming to an end. Petitioner remarked that it must bo a funny sort of religion. From that time she refused to live with him as his wife. Petitioner stated that when he handed a letter of demand to his wife 6he threw it in his face. The decision was reserved. During last week (says the Sy3ney Mail of the 13th inst) New South Wales income-tax payers were busy writing cheques for the annual impost. When finances were in a bad way, and direct it was imposed by Mr. Reid, the State taxation was considered necessary in lieu of the Customs rates which were being taken off. The land-tax, imposed at the 6ame time, is being handed over to the Shires, and taxpayers will have it practically returned' to them in better rodds to fcheir properties. Not so the in-come-tax. It costs 5 per cent, to collect, and many who ought to pay it are believed to elude its incidence, or to pay less than they should if their statements were honest. Meantime the honest man pays it, and pays through the Customs as well, so that he is doubly taxed. From a heavy deficit when tho tax was imposed, the State revenues have increased so much that a. surplus 6f three-quarters of a million is expected in the carrent year. It is not surprising, therefore, that the forced contributors to , the quarter-million of income-tax are paying with an ill-grace, and asking anxiously when relief is to be accorded to them. When a tax ia unnecessary as it is wasteful it is time, to repeal it. VICTORIA. A snow white hare was lately captured near Tongala, Victoria, by Mr. Day, a well-known farmer. The hare, which is a full-grown strong animal, was -offered to the Zoological • Gardens authorities. They offered 10s for it, but this was refused, as a much more liberal offer had "been received from a local resident. Certain political bodies in Melbourne have lately been passing and publishing in the press resolutions "full of sound and fury." The "May-Day Committee" has placed Qn record the following fulmination against Mr. Bent, the Victorian Premier : — "That this committee indignantly protests against the tyrannical treatment to which the May-Day deputation was subjected by Mr. Bent, and considers it a serious disgrace to this State that an unmannerly Bombastes Furioso should be permitted to assume the double role of clown and Czar in a free and enlightened community, and thus convey to outsiders that if New Zealand be 'God's own counj try' Victoria has the 'Devil's own Premier.' " The experience of an opal merchant staying temporarily in Melbourne goes to show that a sleeping draught is not always conducive to repose. He was charged at tfae City Court with damaging property at the Co'ffoe Palace. Evidence showed that at half-post 3 in tie morning defendant was making a noise in his bedroom, ond on the night porter going to investigate tbe cause ha found that a washstand aud ware had been broken, a window smashed, and other damage done. Defendant explained 'to the court that he hud suffered from insomnia for some time, and visited a Collins-street doctor, who prescribed a sleeping draught for him. He took it, arent to sleep, and dreamed that he was removing a barrier which wr.s crushing his son. On his undertaking to pay the damage, 50s, the case was dismissed. Thf« . "Christian Socialists" of Melbourne, whose device is "a white Australia on a green ground," held an indignation meeting to denounce the interference .of the police with gambling-hells and "two-up schools." Mr. Solly, M.L.A., one of the speakers, said that the Rev. Dr. Fitchett, the Rev. A. R. Edgar, and Mr. Judkino "ought to be made to work." The righteous anger of the meeting found expression in the following breathless resolution, moved by Mr. H. Frau, and seconded by Councillor Street: — "That in the opinion of this great gathering of free and God-fearing citizens the howling push of sanctimonious snuffiebusters who i denounce the poor man for gambling a I shilling «s a child of wrath, and cringe and crawl to tho gilded crooks of the Stock Exchange and the Victoria Racing Glab, are a standing menaco to- the peace, 1 progress, and prosperity of Australia; favourable to a piebald population, under Chow -Japanese rule; free trade, a ten-bob-a-w«ek wage, fourteen hours' work for one hour's pay, sweating, prison 1 lai bour, nnd to every other political and economic abomination that may tend to an additional greasing of the fat sow, and should, therefore, be immediately banished from the Commonwealth, with Dr. Danysz and his microbes, in the interests of peace, order, and good government." At a meeting of the Political Labour League Central Executive on the sth inst. objection was taken to the attacks made on clergymen and churches by those closely identified with tho labour movement. The names of those who have used these forms of attack were mentioned, viz : — Senator Dawson, Mr. Solly, M.L.A., Councillor Street, Mr 11. Foran, and Mr. E. Lewis. A motion was carried deploring the attacks, and disowning an\ connection or sympathy with thorn. It continued :— "The executive declares the attitude of the Political Labour Council toward all religions and all churches to be one of non-interference nnd impartial toleration. Its activities lie in a clearly defined secular field, and have nothing to do with the profound mysteries of religion. Its members include representatives of every communion, who work in perfect amity in the pursuit of common subjects. The religious convictions of every fellow-man, \yhether founded on reason or faith, arc sincerely respected. The fostering of this benevolent sentiment is one of the highest objects of our organisation. Further, we resent the constant iteration of the charge of gross materialism of the Labour Party je veiled against us by our political opponents, and based upon the utterances of irresponsible persons, which have been repudiated by us over and over again. We deprecate interference in politics by churches and interference in religious matters by political organisations." SOUTH AUSTRALLA.. A great corset case has been finished in Adelaide. On 11th June the Chief Justice (Sir Samuel Way) delivered judgment in the action brought by Weingar. ten Bros, for an injunction to restrain O. and R. Wills and 00. from selling corsets bearing the trade mark "W. 8." The Adelaide hearing extended over fiftythree sitting days. Judgment woo enteTed for the defendants, with costs. A stay of execution for two months was allowed. The South Australian Premier, Mr. Price, has given publicity to his reasons foi making nis speech at Mount Gambier, [ to which certain ladies of that town took

such strong exception. He says that a leaflet issued by the Australian Liberal League of Sydney had been reprinted by the women's branch of the Producers' League at Mount Gambier. This leaflet, which dealt with Socialism and its aims, contained principles which were abominable, and were repudiated by the members of the Labour party. As it had been circulated among the ladies of Mount Gambier he was quite justified in replying in such a straight out way as he had. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. The report of fche Government Static tician, Mr. M. A. C. Fraser, upon the population and vital statistics of Western Australia for the month of .May, has been issued, and shows a net gain of 1052 souls to the inhabitants of the State the tofcil being 259,555. - ' j At a puWic meeting at Point Hedland, | Western Australia, a letter was read from ! Mr..J. fc lzdell, the member for the distric6 in the State Parliament, announcing his resignation. .He explained that the expenses of the position were more tihan he could afford, as he spent far more than his Parliamentary salary of £200 a year In fact, ho had got into debt, and consequently must "return to 'graftf in order to work off a 'dead, horse.' " A tragic story was unfolded at the inquest on a young man of 27, named Harry Ramsden, who committed suicide at Collie Burn. The principal witfness was a young woman, who stated that she arrived from England on 24th May to marry the deceased, and that on learning from him that he had taken to drink she broke the engagement off. On Snnda* morning deceased met her, and a^ain pressed her to marry him. She declined to comply with his request, and after saying good-bye he walked some distance away and shot himself dead wii'fi a revolver. The deceased left a fetter addressed to his sweetheart, stating that he was not worthy of her. Good practical results, according to the Western Mail, sesm to be forthcoming from the investigations of the Govern" merit officers into the active qualities which make tflie poison plant of Western Australia so formidable. Mr. E. A. Mann, the chemist of the Department of Agriculture, has now published some results as to his investigations with regard flo the Yortc-road poison and the box poison. These are 'epresentative of tho gastrolobiums and the oxylobiums, and Mr. Mann assisted by Dr/lnce and Mr. T. I. Wallas, has discovered what he believes to be their active properties. A3 to flhese there is little room for doubt, since practical experiment serves to show that the "cygnine" and "lobiue," 'as the substances are named, have the characteristic effects of the toxic plants themselves. Oygnino and lobine are alike in effect and in many respects, but differ considerably in composition and chemical character. The- former, for instance, has no tannin, while the box contained tlhat substance to the extent of 2.35 per cent. In his earlier investigations into the York-road poison, Mr. Mann found that permanganate of potash was a remedy, and it seems also to app\y to box poison Already twenty-three persons in the State have secured "sets" of the antidotes from the department ,The Government of Western Australia has adopted a singular course in regard to the three agricultural railways hastily legalised in the closing hours of the lnte session. A "tender" was put in by .the Public Works Department, and as this was £9000 lower than the lowest private offer, the State "accepted" its own tender. The cheapest of the three lines, omitting the price per mile for rails, is the WaginDumbleyung line aB £431 per mile, the> Gomnaling-Dowering being £445, while the most costly is the Katanning-l^ojonup line at £537. The Government requirements (says tho Western Star) have been fairly met witlh a general average of £481, or, allowing for the railage, £1049 per mile. Considering that our existing rates for our present railways, fully equipped, runs to nearly six times that figure, that is a radical departure from precedent, even allowing for the lack of rolling shock and station accommodation, which form Owo of the economies by mere exclusion. Socialists are already pointing to the figure as a proof of the economy of State management, but, as the Star points out!, it has yet to be shown that the Public Works Department's figures, after all, are not really a tender but an estimate which remains to be verified, and they can nob, like an ordinary tender, be enforced. The three lines provide for 71i miles of railway, which should open up districts, not superior to others in the State, but yet suitable as providing new lands for settlers. QUEENSLAND. The Premier of Queensland has written to the Premier of Tasmania suggesting the desirableness of calling a conference of the managers of the various State saving banks, with a view of discussing the question of reciprocity between the institutions in different States. Tho suggestion has been favourably received The Anglican Synod for the Brisbano diocese, alter discussing the educational system, resolved — "That the synod re. cards with grave concern the absence of Bible teaching from the educational svetcm of Queensland, and cordially supports the action of the Bible in State Schools League in approaching the Government on the matter." An extraordinary accident occurred during a cßildren*s practice for a concert at Clermont, Queinsland. A miehievous boy was causing trouble, and Mr. Avenell, head teacher, struck him with a walking-stick, which broke. The splinters struck a little boy named Wheatley, who was standing behind Mr. Avenell,' and caused wounds on both sides of the eye. The boy was taken to the hospital, and three days afterwards the surgeons found splinters in the eyeball. The eye ha? had to be removed. Tha Brisbane Board of Waterworks has for many years vainly endeavoured to furnish the residents of the city with, a bountiful supply of pure water. It has had an uphill fight, and its efforts to satisfy the ratepayer* have not been so successful as either of the parties would have liked. It is <v matter of the utmost importance to Brisbane, and one which has been written about and commented on for years; but so far as the purity of tho water ia concerned, the solving of the difficulty seems as far off as ever Experiments have been made with variable success to deal with the organisms which affect the water, but its turbidity is a. puzzle which does not seem solvable, even to tho professional and most scientific members of the board. At Stradbroke, an island of considerable area — about 31 milea from the city, and running parallel with tho southern coast — there ia a plentiful supply of water contained in immense sandy lagoons; but there aro grave difficulties in the way of bringing it to tho city, both from a financial and an engineering point of view. The vhole question is of such a momentous character that the boaid hns asked Mr. Allen Hazcn, M.S.A.E., of New York, what his terms would bo to come out, inspect, and give them his professional advice on the wholo matter. The reply is just to hand— ls,ooo dollars (£3000), and all travelling expenses. The offer is under consideration.

Lushman : I'm troubled with headache in the morning. It may be on account of my eyes ; perhaps I need stronger glasses. Dr. Shrude: No, I think you merely need weaker glasses — and fewer — at night.