NEW SOUTH WALES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 28, 2 February 1907, Page 9

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Fines totalling £700 have been imposed on eight captains of steamers who had permitted prohibited emigrants to enter the, Commonwealth. A good riding performance has been accomplished by a lad named Archie Danvers, aged thirteen years. The boy left Wellington, New South Wales, on Monday, 21sf January, to search for two horses, and continued till the following Friday night, when he found the animals at Gundagai, from which place they originally came. He had ridden about three' hundred miles in five days. It has been decided to resume the Poel River Estate, New South Wales, under the compulsory provisions of the Closer Settlement Act. The estate consists of about a quarter of a million acres. Though tho tramway authorities in Sydney discarded dorible-deck cars years ago in connection with the steam trams as unsatisfactory, it has now been decided to make experiments with the object of ascertaining whether thoy can bo adopted with advantage in con- | nection with the electric system, xnere are mechanical reasons why tho motor cars should not be so fitted, but it is proposed to introduce trailing cars, with seats on top. An old complaint is being revived in Sydney about tho harbour being disfigured by advertisements. "It is a deplorable fact," says a writer, "that Manly, which has been blessed by Na'turo with so many beautiful spots and pleasant surroundings, should possess ono feature which mars the whole effect and renders abortive tho splendid Scheme' of natural beautification. The blight referred to is a group of glaring signboards."

VICTORIA. A return of tho total valuo of Victorian oversea imports of merchandise for 1906 shows an increase of £1,820,710 over tho previous year. It was moderate in articles of consumption, but considerable in metal goods and machinery. Par,b o[ tho increase- in value is duo to higher prices ruling for many articles. i r ,[ At Campbellfield, Victoria, on Sunday, 20th January, a constable discovered a justice of the peace drinking in an hotel. A summons was issued, and the Magistrate win have to appear before tho local Bench, which is composed principally of teetotallers. It is understood that one of tho matters which stand in the way of a fusion of tho Ministerialists and tho Mackinnon party in the Victorian Parliament is' the question of another referendum on tho subjoct of Scripture lessons in State schools. It is believed that Mr. Bent is personally favourable .to holding a referendum^ and other

Ministers ..are willing to support him -in this matter, but Mr. Mackinnon and Sir Alexander Peacock are oposed to it. Tho Ministerial and corner parties include members who hold diametrically opposite opinions , on the question. "P.S.A." may yet be read, to signify "Political Sunday afternoons." Tho Melbourne Argus writes pointedly concerning 'the "uleasant Sunday afternoons" conducted by the Rev. W. H. Judkins. "At any time," it says, "they woulH be inconsistent with Sabbatarian professions, but they become worse than oven when they are made the occasions of political speeches by candidates for Parliament. What would become of our Sunday if all candidates followed the examples of those who profess to be leaders of social reform? Every hall and meeting place in the State would be ringing with appeal to political passion on the one day when we are glad to lay aside our controversies." Under a scheme for^ encouraging immigration to Victoria it is intended to credit the , immigrant who selects land in London with any payment he makes on' account of passage of money for himself and family as part of the first payment for land. The immigrant will be met on arrival, and taken with his family, free by rail to the land he has selected. If he should find on seeing it that it does not suit him he will bo refunded any payment lie has made on account. If he decides to take another block payments made on the first block will be credited to the second. An endeavour is being made to arrange" w.ith shipping companies for reduced passage rates lor approved immigrants. Another novel provision is the group system, under which a group of men, acquainted with one another, and desiring to settle 'as neighbours, will be allotted adjoining blocks; The department "will also give agricultural labourers and milking hands every facility and assistance in finding employment, and will endeavour to have work ready for them on their arrival. The Minister of Lands is now considering a proposal to encourage -settlers such as retired civil servants to come from India. Dr. Jones, Inspector-General of Insane, lately held an enquiry into charges preferred against Theophilus James Eastham head teacher of the idiot sphooi at Kew, by Walter H. Barker, medical superintendent 'of the asylum. The charges were negligence in the performance of his duties in apparently habitually failing to issue medical comforts wine, etc., ordered by the medical officer for the patients, and other stores issued to him according to the scale of their consumption, thereby depriving them of their proper rations ; and" also, contrary to instructions, accumulating a large quantity of eatables and other commodities presented for the use of idiot children. Among the articles on the floor of the storeroom were 2771 b sago, 114£lb oatmeal, 681 b sugar, 611 b flour, 111 b tea, 20 bottles wine, issued as medical comforts, half a ton of raisins (mouldy when found), and a quantity of children's toys and books. Mr. Eastham, who denied tho charges, stated that formerly it was the practice to withhold some- articles of food from the patients. When Dr. M'Farlane took charge, a week's supply has accumulated. Dr. Jones was of opinion that any error on Mr. Eastham's part had been merely a matter of negligence, and that he had no criminal motive for withholding the supplies. He inliicted a finj of £2 "for neglect of duty as astoreman in allowing goods to accumulate and depreciate." The Age complains strongly of important positions in the service of the State being given to officers whose training and experience has been in widely different departments and is los,t to the service, besides which in their new sphere they are in the hands of their subordinates. More than one instance is given, and it is now apparently contemplated to assign the post of Government printer, at £800 a year, to a gentleman who has had no practical training either as printer, lithographer, engraver or process worker. He was originally a telegraph operator in tho Railway department, and was afterwards given the office of inspector. His duty was to tour the stations and inspect the instruments. When the present Railway Commissioners were appointed alterations were made, and he had to be provided for elsewhere. So the man in charge of the Railway Printing Office was transferred to make room for him as "superintendent of stationery," with a fine office and staff. This is supposed to qualify him for State printer. The Government Printing Office is said to be in a very backward state a 5 compared with private establishments, besides being a costly department, greatly in need of reorganisation. ''No one," says the Age, "but a trained expert could make improvements in these matters, or advise as to the way in which they should be made, and no one but an experienced printer could attempt to direct and supervise the varied work of the printing office staff." SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Over a thousand camels aro at work in different parts of South Australia and the Northern Territory. Some time ago the South Australian Parliament passed an act for the construction of a trans-continental railway lino between Oodnadata and Pine Creek on a system of land grants, and offers were invited by advertisements in the Home papers. Applications were made, and Mr. J. T. Moate, on behalf of an English company, deposited a sum of £10,000 with his tender. The Government, however, changed its policy and declined to take- action under the Act. A good deal of correspondence with British firms has since taken place, on tho subject. The Premier has now, after many months, notified Mr. Moate that his deposit "will be returned on application to tho Treasury." But he says nothing about what looks very like a breach of faith, or of accrued interest. ' The latter point "has not been considered" by the Government. Writing on tho political situation tho Adelaide Observer says: — Careful consideration is demanded for a much more pressing question than franchise. Something must be done — and that speedily — with tho Northern Territory problem, and pleasant Parliamentary picnics at j the public expense will do moro to hinder than to help. Tho Federal Mm I istry have interpreted tho Commonwealth Constitution to mean that the Territory is an integral part of South Australia, and they have amalgamated tho accounts and trade statistics. The State Treasurer must follow suit. And then ? With a snowball deficit now aproaching towards £150,000 yearly— not to speak of the debt of £3,000,000— h0 must propose additional taxation to make ends meet. Doubling the land tax will not pay tho bill. We havo been recently told that tho country is too bad foV Stato development, and too good for Pfivate enterprise. It is admitted on all hands that the condition of the State, finances will not permit of State development of tho Territory, and yet capitalists are not to be suffered, on any terms whatever, to help the taxpayer out of a sorry plight. During January tho land tax notices wore issued from Mr. Scarcy's depart ment to 57,000 people, representing 1 160,000 assessments. The dues have to be paid on or before 14th February. The South Australian land tax rates arc id in the pound up to £5000 worth of land, and an extra $d fop over £5000 values, while absentees have to pay an 20 per gent oq these rates. t

i -There is. every prospect .of .an excellent • year being realised in regard to uoth . land and income tax. - Professor Klaatsch has been made happy by the opportunity of examining the abnormal skull of «n ancient blade- ' tellow, discovered six feet below the « surface' about a year ago. "It is a ■ hne specimen," says the Prof essor, "and ■ m a splendid state of preservation. It . is of great age, and practically similar ' to portions of two which I havo dist covered some time ago at the Como 1 ii ay , e > near St - George river, New South > Wales. These skulls are all particularly ; interesting on account of the formation : of the forehead, the ridge of which is 1 exceptionally pronounced. ' Ho was de- ! lighted with tho teeth— one incisor only I missing from the upper jaw, probably > knockeu out in accordance with native i custom. "The age of this subject ap- ' pears to have been between fifty and sixty years because the sutures have completely disappeared from Che skull. The presence of ruch a beautiful set of teeth m the head of a person of that ! a gf ls unique. The teeth are remark- > able also in view of the parabolic form ■ of the arch." There are evidences, he \ says, that the Como Cave had been in- ; habited for thousands of years -by abori--1 eines, who had made enormous piles of | oyster shells in the vicinity. i Professor Kernot (professor of en- : gmeermg at the Melbourne • University) • and Mr. T. W. Fowler, M.1.C.E., toot ; advantage of their stay in Adelaide at the conclusion of the Science Congress to pay a- visit to Goolwa for the purpose : of examining the Murray mouth and inspecting the route of the proposed canal between Goolwa and Victor Harbour. Mr. Fowler, who is well acquainted with the engineering problems which had to be solved in connection with opening the Gippsland lakes to sea communication, has always been impressed with tho importance of connecting the River Murray with the sea. Their visit wa« arranged by the River Murray League. After an inspection of the Murray mouth, and a thorough examination of the country, both experts came to the conclusion that there are no great engineering difficulties in the way o£ bringing ocean-goinsr steamers and river boats alongside one another. WEST AUSTRALIA. i The Government has decided not to call Parliament together in February,-as was promised at the end of last session* A special session was to be held to reintroduce the Land Tax Bill which the Legislative Assembly passed and tho Legislative Council rejected last session. The Ministerial supporters 'in the Legislative Assembly met on 82nd January^ and advised the Premier not to call Parliament together for a special session as there appeared to be no prospect of tho Legislative Council giving way over the land tax. The .Cabinet met the same evening, and decided to follow the advice of its supporters, and not have a sitting of Parliament until May. Trouble has arisen among the membeis of the honorary medical staff of the Perth Hospital. Recently the board appointed Dr. Kyulasy from tho position of assistant honourary surgeon position of assistant honorary surgeon to that '6f senior honorary surgeon, board protested against the appo:ntment on ihe ground that other doctors' were entitled by length of service to a prior > claim to the position. The Government declined to interfere in the matter, and in consequence Doctors Leschen, Astles, Bandell, and M'Williams have resigned from tho board. QUEENSLAND. An unpleasant experience befell the Yen; Archdeacon Trotter, of' Queensland, recently (says- the -Western Star). He set out -«-ith ihe intention of driving to Taroom, and on Tuesday, Bth January,, crossed a creek between Yeulba and Clifford Station. The creek wa« dry, except for 'a small pool of water, and Archdeacon Trotter selected a placa clear of prickly-pear near by upon which to pitch his tent for .the night. His groom took the horses out of the buggy, and -while me Archdeacon camped m his tent the groom selected tha buggy for his resting place. Tuesday night's storm struck the camp. The water overflowed the banks of the creek, and flooded the surrounding country to a depth of eighteen inches, washed over Archdeacon Trotter's stretcher, and so awakened him. Everything in the tent — clothes, books, rations, and matches — was saturated, and the wayfarers, walking bave-foot over submerged prickly-pear, had to seek higher ground and await the dawn. It was then seen that the horses had crossed to the other side of -the creek, which had since become a roaring torrent, and impossible to cross. When the waters abated the Archdeacon and his man eventually made their way to Bendemere, and thence to Yeulba, returning to Roma on Thursday night, 17th January. TASMANIA. A movement is on foot to create a Greater Launceston by including the suburbs in the city area. A conference with the local bodies on the subject is to be held.