IN THE DOMINIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16259, 17 December 1914, Page 5

IN THE DOMINIONS

COMMONWEALTH PROVIDES PENSIONS. MELBOURNE, December 16. The War Pensions Bill was read a second time in the Federal House of Representatives. It provides for pensions for soldiers and sailors who are partially or totall yincapacitated, and pensions for the dependents of soldiers meeting death at the front.

THE ZAMBESI CASE. ' ARGUMENT BY COUNSEL. SYDNEY, December 16. (Keceived Dec. 16, at 10.20 p.m.) In the case in which the Commonwealth Government is applying before a Prize Court to have the ship Zambesi and her cargo, captured by the warship Encounter off Rabaul, declared a lawful prize, counsel for the Commonwealth argued that the Phosphate Company and the captain of the Zambesi should have insisted on knowing exactly the nature of the despatches they were carrying before allowing the vessel to be chartered. Counsel for the charterers submitted that there was nothing to suggest complicity between their agent and the German Government Counsel for the owners of the Zambesi contended that the case was unique. It would be an astounding thing to hold that a British vessel chartered at a time when the agent and the captain had no knowledge of the existence of war could be condemned. PBICE OF FLOUR. MASTER BAKEES PROTEST. SYDNEY, December 16. (Received Dec. 16, at 10.20 p.m.) A meeting of master bakers protested that the increase in the price of bread was not commensurate with the increased price of flour and the cost of production. INVALIDED HOME. SYDNEY, December 16. (Received Dec. 16, at .10.20 p.m.) Among the paseengers by the Maloja aTe two officers and 10 men of the Australian and New Zealand contingents, who left the troopships owing to various sicknesses. SITUATION IN INDIA. SAID TO BE SATISFACTORY. WILD RUMOURS IN CIRCULATION. DELHI, December 16. (Received Dec. 16, at 9.10 p.m.) The internal situation continues satisfactory. The news of Admiral Sturdee's victory has had an excellent effect on the prices of some commodities, which were high, but are now under control. Wild rumours still circulate in the bazaars, ranging round such reports as that the King has been captured by a Zeppelin, that he is hiding in a fort at Bombay disguised as an Indian, or that the Kaiser lias appointed Gernran judges to sit with the English judges. Every effort is being made to reassure the credulous, both in the British and Indian Native States. \ v ===== N - !