COMMONWEALTH ITEMS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 12 August 1914, Page 8

COMMONWEALTH ITEMS

(Received Aug. 12. 12.30 p.m.) bi ri);Ni<ii, a.^. i 2. The steamer St. jbouis has *eacned Newcastle from Noumea. She reports three German cruisers are beiieved w ue ao tjiuiioa. Four German vessels have been seized at Newcastle. MiSLBOURINIS, Aug. 12. The German-Australia, steamer flobai t has arrived and been seized. £ihe only called at Capetown and the captain wa# not aware tnat war had been declared. The Premier's conference eonsiuered the circulation of authentic war news, and are securing their own budget tor distribution. Steps have been taken io secure as much information as possible from the High Commissioner with a view to making it available for the public through the usual channels. BRISBANE, Aug. 12. In the Assembly a Bill has been introduced to enable the Government to secure meat supplies for the use of the Imperial authorities. This only applies to meat intended for export, "whether live stock or canned. The penalty for a breach oi' the Bill is £1000 or a'year's imprisonment. PERTH, Aug. 12. The President of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod has written to the Gov-ernor-General assuring him of the loyalty of Lutheran congregations in all States to Britain and that they are pi epnred to defend their King and country with their goods, bodies and lives.