AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8295, 25 September 1903, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

o [Br Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

Per Press A K=nniATioN.

Received September 24, at 4.32 p.m. Melbourne, September 24.

Sir Samuel Griffiths, Sir E. Barton, and Mr O'Connor have accepted uie judgeship-,. Sir E. Barton has placed the resignation of the Cabinet in the hands of Lord Tennyson, and !Mr Deakin has been sent for to construct the Ministry. Mr jjeakin will be (Prime Minister and (Minister of External Affairs ; Mr Drake, Attorney-General; Mr Chapman, Minister for Defence; Mr Playford, honorary Minister; tlie other portfolios being unchanged. Received September 25, at 0.26 a.m. Melbourne, September 24.

The State Premier has received a cable stating that the Constitution Reform Bill passed last session has not been passed in accordance with the Constitution Act, in that the statutory majority has not been obtained in respect of some of its provisions, and that the Bill will have to be put in proper form before it can receive tlie royal assent. Mr Irvine, after consulting various constitutional authorities, is convinced in the view that the amendments- adopted were only consequential, and that the Bill had been passed in accordance with one Constitution, Act. Therefore, he urges the Imperial authorities to sanction the measure. . Received September 25, at 1.9 o.m. Sydney, September 24. Sailed, late—Zcalandia. A great house witnessed Miss Ada Crossley's first performance. She sang brilliantly, evoking the enthusiasm of the audience. Her rendering of "Home, Sweet Home," was given with such pathos that it moved mnnv to tears.

Brisbane, September 24. Mr Morgan made a statement- in the House regarding the policy of the new Government. He declared that it would be unwk-e this year to deal witn any large measures of policy. He intended to devote the present session to absolutely necessary measures, and would exercise great economy without impairing efficiency of tlie service. He would give effect to the expressed will of the House that there should be no increased taxation until economy had been practised to the fullest extent. He hoped to stimulate settlement by throwing open private and Crown lands. He proposed to give the franchise to women, and abolish plural voting.