AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10572, 29 September 1910, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.]

(Pee Press Association.) THE VANCOUVER SERVICE. Melbourne, September 28. In the House of Representatives the Postmaster-General said he had received a cable from Sir W. Laurier intimating that Canada will {jive permission for the Vancouver steamers to call at New Zealand, and expressing the hope that Australia would concur. The Federal Cabinet will consider the proposal. ABORIGINAL MASSACRE. Perth, September 28. The twelfth victim of the Laverton aboriginal massacre has succumbed. AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. Melbourne, September 28. In the House of Representatives, on the Land Tax Bill, Mr Hedges moved an amendment to clause 10 in favor of exempting the amount paid to the Crown for land. Mr Mahon thought a £SOOO exemption constituted a class tax. The. amendment was defeated. AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION. Received September 29, at 8.50 a.m. Sydney, September 29. The population of the Commonwealth at the end of June was 4,421,264; New South Wales, 1,643,264 ; Victoria, 1,308,705; Queensland, 589,586; South .Australia, 417,493; AYestralia, 279,360; Tasmania, 183,387. South Australia and Tasmania show a decrease, but the others large increases. A CATHOLIC UNDERTAKING. Sydney, September 29. The Catholics have initiated a movement to complete St. Mary's Cathedral at a cost of £120,000. There is already £43,000 in hand. BOY SCOUTS. Sydney, September 29. The boy scouts in the Commonwealth number over 15,000. THE PACIFIC CABLE. Melbourne, September 29. For the year ended March 31 the profits on working the. Pacific cable were £17,950. On account of the annuity payment of £77,544 there was a deficit of £45,588, whereof Australia's share is £19,563, Britain's and Canada's each £16.506, New Zealand's £6714. The president's report makes special reference to the agreement of the Canadian Pacific railway for a fiveyears' lease of a land line across Canada, which it is claimed will obviate the risk of delay from congestion and diminish greatly the risk of erro;'

PRESBYTEIUAX ASSEMBLY. Received September 29, at 9 .-!.!> a.m. Sydney, September 29. The Presbyterian General Assembly of Australia lias commenced its sittings. The Rev. Holland, of Victoria, the new Moderator, delivered the presidential address. Mr Barber, one of the visiting Scotch Agricultural Commission, was present, mid explained the objects of the mission. In sending out Scotch farmers the Old Country was {living Australia of her best, recognising that Australia and Canada were the best place 011 God's earth for young men to settle! CENSUS QUESTIONS. Melbourne, September 29. Amongst the questions to be asked in the census papers are: The amount of rent paid; the daily wages: the number of hours worked : the amount of money possessed: whether a total ;b----siainer. A TST R A MA N POL I TICS. Melbonrne, September 29. The House of Representatives inserted a provision in the Land Tax Bill allowing owners till September 30 to divide their holdings before having to pay tax.