AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10959, 27 December 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

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SPEAKER REFUSES TO RESIGN. Received December -Ij, at M.JS :mi. Sydney, December 20. It is reported that Saturday's Cabinet meeting ended in a deadlock. Mr "Willis declining the Government's request to resign. Nothing can be done •till the House reassembles. Received December 27, at 10.25 a.in Sjdney, December 27. Mr Willis denies that the Government- requested him to resign, and declines to sav what transpired at the Cabinet meeting attended by him.

WHAR/ LABORERS WANT MORE. Sydney, December 26. Owing to the coastal wharf laborers refusing to work overtime on Saturday at the award rates, several vessels were forced to return with a portion of their cargo to the ports of embarkation. Ihc men demanded 2s 3d, and the ajyurd gives Is 10Jd

HUGE CHRISTiLVS TRAFFIC

Received December 2(. at 1.2-5 a.m. Sydney, December 26.

Over 5,500,000 passengers were carried on the Svdnev trams last week, nearly 1,000,000 more than at any previous Christmas.

AUSTRALIAN TRAGEDIES. Brisbane, December 26. George Cooper, a wharf laborer, shot his wife, who is in a serious condition, and then committed suicide. Francis Mebbel and John jJackson 3 school teachers, were drowned at Calouiulra, near Gympie, while attempting to rescue a woman bather f ihc latter was saved by a third mau.

MACHINE-SHEARING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Sydney, December 26. In the machine-shearing championship of the world, for a stake of £IOO, 50 sheep, between Dan Cooper (the New South Wales claimant) and the world s champion, Bill Day (South Australia), Dav finished in 1031mins and Cooper 3imins later. Cooper was awarded the championship on points. LARGE INCOMES; SMALL FAMILIES. Melbourne, December 26. The return of the account books kept by householders shows that those having the larger incomes have relatively smaller families. The books returned were not sufficiently numerous to be of much value. POLICEMAN SHOT DEAD. Sydney, December 27 When Sergt. McDonnell was attempting to arrest a foeigner afc Warren the latter drew a revolver and shot M'Donnell through the heart, deat-LTbeing instantaneous. The miscreant was subsequently arrested.