AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 1137, 18 March 1910, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

3Y ELECTBIO TEtEQBAPH —COPTBIGHI £PEB PBEBS ASSOCIATION.! (lleoeived March 18, 9.30 a.m.) COAL WORKERS' UNION. Sydney, March 17. The Newcastle Wharf Labourers' and Coaltrimmers' Unions have completed the formation of a co-opera-tive company to do stevedorin work at the port. It is st&fced that several big shipping companies are standing behind the unions. CHOLERA EXAGGERATED. The manager of the Royial Packet Steam Navigation Company yesterday received a cable from Batavia stating that the outbreak of cholera had practically died out. REV. W. J. WATSFORD DEAD. Obituary—Rev. W. J. Watsford, son of iihe late Father Watsford. RICH STRIKES OF GOLD. A rich seam of gold has been struck in the Long Tunnel mine at Gundagai. From a quarter of a ton of ore prospectors dollied eighty ounces. A prospector named Bernard unearthed <a 128-ounoe nugget at Penny Weight Flat,' Balkrat. Hie brother was with him till a few days ago, when he left, being unable to make arliving. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. Melbourne, March IS. The State Attorney-General proposes to introduce a Bill to .abolish captial punishment. THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS. The Federal election campaign is in full swing. All States and parties are working hard 3 and strenuous contests are promised. The conference of the Australian Natives' Association resolved that the financial agreement between the States and the Commonwealth ,was detrimental to the best interests of the Commonwealth. The Sydney Trades and Labour Council negatived the motion that all unionists should cease work at dinner time on polling d<ay. Supporters of the motion alleged that in many cases boses refused to allow men time to go to the ballot-box, and that a cessation of work would stimulate interest in the election. Opponents argued that the* motion reaUy meaait a general strike, and it would Be giving the other side a big handle. Eventually it was decided to ask the Government to declare a half-iholi-day on polling day.