AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15237, 26 February 1913, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SYDNEY GOVERNWENT. HOUSE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT. By Telegraph.— Association.—Oopyrigit. (Received February 25, [0 p.m.) Sydney, February 25. In' the Government House case' counsel for the Government contended that-from the time of Governor Phillip any land taken possession of in 'the .name/.; of the King belonged to the colony by virtue of any Act of the Governor of the colony. Even before the passing of the ■ Constatetion Act it would not have been, competent for the King to take lands from the colony except through the Governor. / The sovereignty of the lands in' auestion and the proprietorial rights were, vested in the Governor. If there had been an infringement of the rights of i'ae Imperial Government it was a matter for negotiation, not for litigation. He also claimed that the Governor as an Imperial officer was aware of what the Ministers had done, yet he did not disapprove. It was conceivable that if thoracis of his Ministers had infringed Imperial rights he would have dismissed them. The Governor was responsible to the King, therefore the matter was outside fSe jurisdiction of the Court. NEW ZEALAND METHODIST ..,-. cmrßCH.,_ ...... ; SIGNIFICANCE OF UNION. ' (Received February-asj' 12.23[,':a>m.} . ' February 25. The Rev. Mr. Carruthers . has been elected president of the Methodist' Conference. : The Rev. Dr. Yourtgmarj. speaking of his recent visit ..to New Zealand in connection, with the inauguration of,; an independent conference for ! the Dominion, and the consummation of union between tie Methodist and Primitive Methodist Churches, said no one recognised the importance of the step taken, but he was perfectly confident the union would mean a great advancement for . the combined J Methodist Churches. '■.'/>■:.•■:'.'' :s;V /.-A

COST OF CREASED WAGES. (Received February 26, 12.20 a.m.) : ". Sydney. February 25. ■■''/ The: Lord Mayor in a financial minute points out that the increases ..iol.*.wages payable to municipal employees, as -i result of the Wages Board award represent an increased rate of in the £/ , t AUSTRALIAN NAVAL COMMANDED. '■ '"'; •;■'■•''-'' : ." Melbourne, February 25.... In connection with the proposed appointment of a British admiral to-the supreme command-of -the .Australian . Navy > although, it is not officially announced, there is reason to believe that Rear-Adroiral G.' ; E. Patey, . who commanded fchS second battle squadron?of;the second division of v' v ,i: : the. Home fleet since 1910, will be- selected for the position. -..:(,-■'.::'., APPEAL AGAmST SJHE DISanSSEB. ' ' •. ■ • - Sydney, February '25. . The appeal ■:'.©& Sir Norland:'Maclauriri, a director of the Colonial Sugar .Refining Company, against his file of £25 and £320 costs ' for. r ßefusing • to attend; ~-before the Sugar Commission-in answer to a poena, has been dismissed. "•.".-' STATE FERBY SERVICE SUGGESTED, - ' Sydney, February : 25. ■[ Mr. Nielsen, ex-Minister for Lands, in.,. reporting on his ; ; visit to San Francisco, l;. : recommends the Government to purchase the Sydney ferry service.. ■„ ; :; : . '■. * SWIMMING RECORD. '_ --'•■■ .'('. Melbourne, February;2s. ..-"■'. Steadman swam a hundred v yards in ..?:'-; : ? 68 2-ssec, beating BeaiffepaiieV, record by. 1 3-sseo. " , The scratch ■ hundred ; resulted in a:'. win 'o- ; \ for S, ; Wickhami who beat lidngworth,- _ Pago was third. >■-•<:• ; FRUITLESS CONFERENCE; '; ■', i : Melbourne, February 25. No agreement: has resulted from tht ; compulsory conference between the Mer* chant Service Guild and the shipowi«er» in • regard to officers',' pay and conditions -.of-.-4': employment; '' The matter • has been re- . ferred to the Arbitration Court.