AUSTRALIAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12377, 10 February 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

(Press Assn. — By Telegraph. — Copvright.) BRISBANE. Feb. 9. The builders' labprers' strike continues, and there is no indication of a settlement. BRISBANE, February 10. The steamer Eastern has been floated out of dock. An examination disclosed that the whole bottom plating • abaft of the engines had been damaged, but insufficient to prevent her to proceed to Sydney for repairs, which, it is estimated, will cost £10,000. SYDNEY, Feb. 9. South Wales is arranging for a loan of £700,000 from the Federal Government on the same terms as the Victorian loan. The State Minister for Education, Mr Beeby, as part of the enlarged education policy proposes to spend a quarter of a million in bringing school building? and playing areas up to a better standard. The drought so long prevalent in the Gilbert Islands continues, and is the ' worst ever experienced. Many cocoanut trees are dead, and there is muchVdis--1 tress among the natives. The Government is distributing rations. (Received February 10, 10.15 a.m.) '. SYDNEY, February 10. In connection with the Festival of ; Empire team, New Zealand, as the holder of the heavy-weight boxing championship, is to select a representative, but failing the Dominion so doing, Hardwick represents Australasia. Besides ; the men mentioned, Clemes (Tasmania), Lynch (New South Wales), and Larking (Victoria) will probably be available to represent Australasia if required. The 1 team leaves on March Bt'h. | The Lord Mayor, in acceding to a request to convene a public meeting to consider the defenceless position of Aus- ! tralia, said a motion favoring compulsory j adult training would be discussed. MELBOURNE. Feb. 9. The bye-election for the Batman seat [ in the Federal House resumed, in the return of Mr Brennan (Labor). MELBOURNE, February 10. A man named Polley,,, at East Foots--1 cray, fired a gun at a girl named Biddla, who refused his offer of marI riage. The shot missed. Polley then r blew out his own brains. Since the girl's s refusal he had several times threatened to commit suicide.