AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14235, 4 December 1909, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.— Association.-Copyright NAVAL LOAN BILL. (Received December 4, 1.20 a.m.) Melbourne, December 3. The Federal • House of Representatives has passed the Naval Loan Bill. The rate of interest has been reduced from 3£ to 3 per cent, and the period of redemption fixed at 20 years. Five per cent, of the total loan is to be paid into a sinking fund. A CHINAMAN MURDERED. (Received December 3, 11.33 p.m.) Sydney, December 3. A Chinaman, with his head . terribly battered, was found dead to-day in a hut at Glen Innes. It is supposed that ho was murdered by another Chinaman, with whom he quarrelled. • POSEIDON NUGGETS. Melbourne, December 3. A slug of gold weighing 116oz has been found at Poseidon, where some big nuggets were unearthed a few years ago. LAWN TENNIS. (■Received December 4. 1.30 a.m.) - Sydney, December 3. In the tennis invitation double tournament, Long (one of the American, challengers for the Davis cup) and Dunlop defeated Rice and Campbell by 6—4, 6—4, 6—B, B—6, MILITARY SERVICE. Melbourne, December 3. V The Federal Senate carried an amendment to the Defence Bill that; persons forbidden by their religion should be exempt, as far as possible, from other than non-combatants' duties.

NEWCASTLE STRIKE. ' ■ : " ■ ''."".■■ .'.: : '■■■■■ ' ;-'.,: '•..V''?.i>' l '. ♦ < '_ ■ NO SIGN OF SETTLEMENT. PREMIER'S EFFORTS FUTILE. BOARD TO BE APPOINTED. By Telegraph.— Press Association.—Copyright. ' (Received December 3, 10.50 p.m.) * Sydney, December 3. In the Industrial Court to-day the Presi- > dent (Mr. Justice Heydon) read a letter from the Premier (Mr. Wade) officially informing him that all efforts to effect a, settlement of the coal trouble by conference, or to secure the appointment of a board under the Industrial Disputes Act, had proved futile. Mr. Wade conveyed this official information in order that Mr. Justice Heydon might consider the desirability of taking any further action that he might consider necessary in the public interest under the powers conferred by the Industrial Disputes Act. Mr. Justice Heydon announced that a Newcastle Colliers' Board would be ap- • ■ pointed to deal with the matter' of the dispute, and adjourned tho matter till - Saturday morning for the appointment of ; the board. P. AND 0. COAL CARGO. ' LUMPERS REFUSE TO UNLOAD. Sydney, December 3. Although the strike congress decided that the coal brought from Japan by" the steamer Palermo for the P. and 0. "Company should" be handled, the Coal Lump- ' ere' Union is not altogether satisfied, hold- . ing that the importation of the coal is a blow at the southern mines, which' have a contract to supply the Peninsular steamers. .

(Received December 3, 11.30 p.m.)

Sydney, December 3.

The Lumpers' Union, after a protracted discussion, decided by a large majority not to work the Palermo's coal. " The P.

and 0. Company this afternoon started, with the crew of the Palermo, to unload , the coal, which is being placed in the : bunkers of the liner Macedonia by her crew,';'...;;'. '-':.■', •■ >.■'■,.*-' » ':"-, i : 'vKfc-'l'.:: THE UNION COLLIERIES. v

RAILWAYS WANT WHOLE OUTPUT;

(Eeceived December 3, 11 p.m.) . '

Sydney, December 3. The Railway Department lias intimated, that it will require the whole of the coal from the Ebbw Main. and Young Wallsend pits, which are being operated by the strikers. The management considered the price offered by the Department inadequate, and unless better terms are of* fered threatens to close the mines. .. ~,.., ...... , : A HOPELESS POSITION. PEACEMAKERS' EFFORTS FAIL. ~ * (Received December 4. 1.30 a.m.)«s* ..., Sydney, December 3. The Labour party: have submitted proposals for settlement which suggested that , both parties should withdraw their letters to Mr. Wade, and start negotiations de novo, , to the. proprietors and strike congress. The proprietors have turned;the proposals < down. „ The* Congress, though it. has sent no official reply yet, is understood to be favourable. Mr. Hughes stated to-night that the position for bringing the parties together was hopeless. The action of the 'lumpers over the Palermo's cargo is regarded as serious," and further developments in connection with the handling of <■ imported coal are not im- . probable. , ,- *> ' SETTLEMENT OR CATACLYSM? ■■■'■■ .•-■'"■:'■'■■;:. ■:. ■ ;. .' -..'. ■"•'■".'■ ..,..'•'•■ : ;- ■ I,,'!' ' :■■ '~ ;; '•■." * ,'•'■ LABOUR CAUCUS PROPOSAL.

«' ~ Sydney, December 3. 4 , Mr. W. M. Hughes, the mouthpiece of the strikers, states that the ' situation ■is ■ ' critical. Everything depends on the- next *.; ?•.; 24 hours whether the trouble will be settled or a great industrial cataclysm -will, : follow. The Labour party caucus ha* formulated proposals far ~; settlement of the strike. The nature *of the <, proposals is secret. They will be submitted to the strike congress, to-day. ,; '. *• EFFECT IN MELBOURNE. " Melbourne, December '3. Three thousand persons are' idle in Melbourne, as a result of the strike, and *<■■■■<■■:<.. a* many more working under the full \ " number of hours. ', - " I SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE. EFFECT OF THE STRIKE. (Received December 4,1 a.m.) . London, December 3., Very large shipments of coal are being sent to the'*west, coast of South America as a result of the drop in Australian shipments. < .': "'-'■'" . :' '■" ■ ' : >' ■'.' ■■ '■••'■ : ' \'"7 v'' " -

Almost every; locality has a custom ' , peculiar to itself, and at Cheviot (according to the Christchurch Press) it *is the manner in which toasts are honoured at social functions. Each toast is honoured twice. The proposer, before making t his i • speech, asks that glasses be filled, and the toast honoured. > This is done.,l: Then comes the proposer's speech, which concludes with a request,to drink the health and * this is done. The other evening at the Railway League's banquet, Cheviot went one better on itself. The Hon. T. Mackenzie's speech in response to the toast of "The Ministry" :was not unduly long, but at its conclusion it was proposed and unanimously agreed to "that the Minister's health be again honoured." Per- . haps the fact that Mr. Mackenzie's speech was at times thoughtlessly j ; interrupted • may N have led the' warm-hearted : Cheviot , ' people to take this means of assuring the Minister of their goodwill. A Christchurch gunsmith, chatting with a Press reporter on the question of (ho , carrying or weapons, said that thopriic-' §1 ticfii so far as Christchurch was concerned, was practically unknown. Fresh arrivals from Home, on the other hand, ufeu'aJly, brought out an assortment of lethal weapons, ranging from hunting-knives to rifles and revolvers. The average new chum, the speaker' said, appeared to think that on-coming to the Dominion he would pro? bably have to fight for dear life occasionally with painted savages and wild beasts-. He also .had an idea that game of all kinds and sizes could be had anywhere lotf , • the shooting. . •;■.;-,_...;. :-•/.■—