AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9588, 4 September 1913, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

(Bt Electric Tilkjraph—Copyright.) (Pip Priss Association.) Received September 4. 9.35 a.m.

SYDNEY Sent. 4. There is a case of suspected smallpox at Bathurst. A fourth caso has developed at Lithgow. The Shop Assistants' Association at Broken Hill defeated a proposal to resume pending an award, and decided to continue the strike. The central executive resolved to strike a levy to support the strikers.

Count Esperanza, president of tho Condominium Court in the New Hebrides, has irrived on route on a holiday visit to Europe. Ho declined to be drawn regarding ho alleged breaches of the law by French traders.

The cricket team to tour Ceylon, organised by Rev. E. Waddy, includes the three Waddys, Hazlitt, W. Bardsley, and Min3tt.

The population of New South Wales on 30th June was 1,309,125 —males 950.534, females 353,591. Tho death is announced of Mr Andrew Kelly, a member of tho Legislative Asj scnibly. This leaves the parties in the Assembly practically evenly divided, but it is too late in tho life of Parliament materially to effect the political situation. Tho Huddart-Parker Company have declared an interim dividend for the halfyear ended 30th Juno of six per oont. Mrs Donne, who was charged with shoot ng her husband, a butcher, in the street at Woollooinooloo, was acquitted, the verdict being that the weapon went off accidentally. Tho accused.oxclaimcd : "Oh. th%nk God ! I "did not kill him, mv dear bov." MELBOURNE, Sept. 4. In the Federal House, Mr -Frazcr (ex-Postmaster-General) launched another censure motion against the Government. He has given notice of motion that tho action of Attorney-General Irvine in determining to hold a retaining fee from the Marconi Company, now in litigation with the Commonwealth' Government, has violated the codo of rules laid down by the British Primo Minister, providing that Ministers ought not to enter into any transaction whereby their private pecuniary interest may oven conceivably coino into conflict with public duty, and tlint such action is detrimental to the best interests of tho Commonwealth. It is understood that the debate on Mr Fisher's censure motion will be finished tonight. and Mr Frazor's will bo taken on Tuesday. An arrangement has been entered into between Premier Cook and the Opposition, whereby Mr Frazer's motion can bo disposed of in one day. Rev. Spurr. addressing the Union of Churches Congress, said he believed the present spirit of unrest represented tho birth of a hotter life. Comparing tho Christian atmosphere of the Adelaide university with that, of Melbourne, he declared that for many years past the atmospheres in the Melbourne university had been rather agnostic, and men had to fight for their faith. If they wcro a united church they could possess their own university, they>bv obviating such a danger.