AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11731, 13 August 1901, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— right/ A GERMAN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION.; '■-'' ; SrDNET, August i 12. News : has been received that the - German' cruiser Oormoran landed parties of sailors to punish the natives at St. Mathias Island, ■ in connection with the : murder of Herr | Meneke. '-The natives were surrounded and J surprised, but fought determinedly, 80 be- ' ing billed. Seventeen prisoners, "who were taken, were sentenced to deportation and hard labour on the plantations. "■''■■• AN ISLAND OUTRAGE. . Sydket, August 12. Another outrage is reported from New Britain. The natives attacked a German trader named Wolff, and killed his wife and a native boy. Wolff defended himself until the arrival of assistance. • ■ • . THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. • . r .''' ■■ '•.;;',. ■ i ''' : :'\ ■'■;■'.■'-Y. Melbourne,-, August 12. Dr. Maxwell's report to the ■ Federal Par' liament on the sugar industry, with special inquiry as to the value of black and white • ? j labour, has been circulated. It says that when white labour is considered in relation to skill, endurance, and stability, its highest co-efficiency obtains in the southern districts, and its value is reduced to a; minimum in the ultra-tropical districts. The converse value applies to black labour. ».Thus it apI pears that the labour powers in the climatic extremes of the sugar areas are made to economically compensate each - other. It is indicated that invention may be expected to provide mechanical devices for harvesting cane and other work. • These will further strengthen the current tendency to substitute lower by higher forms of labour. The increment" of' white settlers upon the sugargrowing lands during the past decade, with the reduction of islanders, indicate' that under the operation of given natural laws, particularly in certain latitudes/the Pacific islander is a, relatively declining factor in the production of Queensland sugar. WHARF LABOURERS' STRIKE. (Received August 13, 0.43 a.m.) . ';■:; Brisbane, August 12. A meeting of shipping companies held ts consider the wharf labourers' strike, decided to maintain freedom of contract. The stea- -, mers are getting away well to time. -.■':. FOUR ISLANDERS DROWNED. (Received August 13. 0.43 a.m.) Brisbane, August 12. By the capsizing of * pearliu 0 boat a* Thursday Island, four Pacific Islanders were drowned.. " " - . .