AUSTRALIAN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 53

AUSTRALIAN

MELBOURNE, August 15. Replying to a question in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr De akin, the Federal Premier, said inquiries were to be made, with a view to protecting tue interests of persons assured in connection with one of the large American companies which it had been stated contemplated withdrawing from Australia. The Commonwealth Government, added the Premier, had no power to deal with insurance till legislation was passed on the matter. MELBOURNE, August 17. The Federal Premier (Mr Deakin) has submitted Messrs Burns, Philp and Co.’s claim for £IO,OOO compensation for loss of trade in the Marshall Inlands to the Home authorities for transmission to Germany. MELBOURNE, August 17.

Some stir has been caused in produce circles by a report that the abnormally high price of onions is due to a “ corner ” by a small syndicate, which comprises a member of the State Government and one prominent supporter of the Government in Parliament. Last year at this time onions were about £2 a ton; to-day they reached £25 a ton, and are expected to reach £3O. The syndicate is reported to have bought up all the onions in Victoria at from £6 to £7 per ton. The Premier and Minister for Agriculture deny having any connection with the syndicate, and do not believe one of their colleagues is connected with it. MELBOURNE, August 17. The Commonwealth Copyright Bill has been introduced in the Senate. It gives newspapers twenty-four hours’ protection of cable news. The State Government has introduced a bill to quell disturbances at public meeting*. The measure imposes a

penalty for using threatening, abusive, and insulting language. MELBOURNE, August 18.

Sir William Lyne, Federal Minister of Customs, referring to the statement of the “Daily Chronicle’s” Ottawa correspondent—that the Canadian Government bad officers to supply it with confidential information, and that, the Commonwealth should act in a similar manner —says he sees no necessity for the Commonwealth to have a representative in America to find out prices there. The Canadian Commissioner of Customs had already informed him that it was inadvisable for officers of the Customs to supply information asked by him in regard to the cost of certain articles.

The Senate has passed the Wireless Telegraphy Bill. SYDNEY, August 16.

Mr Samuel Smith, employees’ representative on the Arbitration Court, refused to take his seat on the bench today owing to the alleged insanitary condition of the building. Mr Smith’s action caused a deadlock till this morning, when Judge Hey don announced that as Mr Smith still declined to sit, he, with the consent of the parties, was willing, in his private capacity, to act as arbitrator. Both parties to the dispute agreed to honourably abide by Judge Heydon’s decision.

SYDNEY, August 16.

Tse-tsu-shan, the Chinaman whose accounts in the London “Chronicle” of ill-treatment of Chinese coolies at Johannesburg have caused some discussion, is a native of this State. He left here eighteen months ago, and went to London to prosecute inquiries regarding the treatment of Chinese in various parts of the British dominions.

Private information has -been received from the Marshall Islands that a tidal Wave destroyed the coastal villages at Jaluit. A hundred natives and one European were drowned. Great damage was done to plantations. The half-yearly report of the Broken Hill Proprietaiy Company shows a profit of £170,149. The production of silver amounted to 2,705,9‘290z- —an increase of 141,5870 z on the previous half year. SYDNEY, August 18. While the Nor#h German Lloyd steamer Prinz Waldemar, which has arrived here from Yokohama, was at Kobe (Japan), the body of. a murdered Japanese woman was found on deck, pinioned, and strangled with a towel. A search led to the discovery of fourteen Japanese girl stowaways, for Hongkong. Two of the Malay crew were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the murder,, and, together with the stowaways, were landed at a Japanese port. SYDNEY, August 18. Christ Church, in George street, Sydney, one of the oldest Anglican churches in the city, was partially destroyed by fire this morning. The roof of the organ-loft and the instrument were burnt.

Mr T. E. Donne, Superintendent of the New Zealand Tourist Department, has arrived here, on bis return from England and America. He expresses his belief that his visit will result in a complete and interesting representation of the art and manufactures of the Old World at the Christchurch Exhibition. Mr Donne proposes to make a series of recommendations to his Government on the best methods of attracting desirable settlers to the colony. Sir Samuel McCaughey, the wellknown sheep breeder, has presented the Presbyterian Church with 3000 guineas. ADELAIDE, August 17.

It is feared that the schooner Cygnet has foundered in Investigation Strait with four hands.