AUSTRALIAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11129, 31 July 1907, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

(Press Assn.— -By Telegraph— Copyright). BRISBANE, July 30. ■ The Legislative Assembly met to-day. Mr Kidston, -the Premier,- announced that the Government had received from the Labor party a promise of general support, and under the circumstances the Government would continue to carry on. In the Assembly Air Bowman, leader of the Labor party, stated, at the. Premiers suggestion, that the party had agreed to support the Government. So long as they were not asked to support anything conflicting with the' labor platform, .they would give the Government general support, while maintaining freedom to criticise any of its measures. , SYDNEY, July 30.

The Governor, Sir Harry Rawson, was installed a s Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge at an imposing ceremony. - The State Arbitration Court award substantially better wages and conditions to shop assistants all round. A murder has. taken place at Qurrindi. George Tofft, while under the influence of liquor, visited the home, of his.sweetheart, a girl named Fletcher. They quarrelled. He induced the girl to accompany him to the rear of the bouse,, where he shot her twice, and in addition battered in. her head. Meeting an acquaintance, Tofft said he had done for Fletcher, and added he wanted' to kill her father and then have a feed and do for himself. Tofft is missing. The fire on the French steamer is outThe damage was chiefly confined to the sail locker and number .1 and 2 forehblds, where considerable cargo was damaged by smoke and water. Several firemen were, overcome by fumes, but soon recovered. The cargo is being- discharged.

(Received July 31, 9.55 a.m.) ' . SYDNEY, July 31. Jealousy was the cause of the Quirindi tragedy. Sir H. Rawson laid the foundation stone of the Young Men's Christian Association's new building, which cost, with the fittings, £34,000. . The shop assistants' award embodies an advance 'of about 30 per cent, in \rages generally; in some instances 40 to 50 per cent. The salary for male assistants of nine years' experience is fixed at £2 10s, and femalesjaot less than 275. 6d. The hours are 53 per week. The employers' representative at the Arbitration Court dissented from the award relating to remuneration, declaring the minimum rates were excessive, especially for females. H ultimately adopted and made the common rule, they would tend tb great loss, and, in some cases, to the ruin of business pe ° Pe ' MELBOURNE, July 31. Mr W. H. Moule 'has been appointed to a professorship vacated by the death of Professor Molesworth. The Federal House made good progress ■with the Bounties Bill." Bonuses on hemp, flax, mohair, cotton seed, and linseed were, adopted. Olives were struck out. NORFOLK ISLAND, July 31. Arrived: Warship Promethus, from Auckland. She experienced a heavy southerly gale.