THE COMMONWEALTH

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14237, 1 July 1910, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH

Pi«e< Aswciation-By Telegraph-Copyright VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICE. SYDNEY, June 30. The Council of the Chamber of Commerce has decided to ask the Postmaster to include Melbourne.as a port of call in the new Vancouver contract.

RECORD PROPERTY SALE. The greatest sale of city properties on record was held in connection with the late J. B. Watson's estate. The amount realised was £331,420.

RECIPROCITY. I The question of reciprocity between' Canada and New Zealand will be con-| sidered by the Federal Cabinet, though! no action will be taken. Mr Fisher j states that no reciprocity will be acceptable to Australia that does not give ample protection to the industries of the Commonwealth. ALIEN RESTRICTION. The shipping companies complain of the harassing effect of the Alien Restriction Act in regard to shipwrecked Asiatics. The Union Company is the latest victim. The British law provides that distressed seamen must be landed from a wreck, but makes no distinction in colour. The Australian' law prevents the landing of aliens.! Tlie Tofua brought up the shipwrecked I crow of the Kilbnrn from Fiji. They arc mostly Asiatics, and it was found: that they could not be landed. The' men were, taken back to the islands,! but one escaped, for which the Com-i pany is liable to £IOO. j NAUTICAL ENQUIRY. i The Marine Court found the mate of j the steamer Ranadi responsible for the! collision with the lima on the 17th j inst., and exonerated the captain from .' all blame. As the Ranadi is a King's; ship, the Court had no jurisdiction to : deal with the mate's certificate. j TRADE CHANGES. ; The Canadian Government has de-! cided to close its Sydney Trade Cbm-j missioner's office, and appoint Mr W. • A. Beddoe to New Zealand. Mr Ross [ will bo in charge of the Australian of- \ ■ fices in Melbourne. J SMALL DEFICIT. •' It is understood that Mr Fisher will'. to-mormw annouif*> that the Com-• monwealth deficit is considerably be- '■ low what was anticipated, not exceed-j ing £450.000. DEATHS OF NATIVES. .. j < The Lieutenant Governor, of. Papua.!* reports a heavy mortality amoiiq thei-J natives at the Lake Kurmv goldfields, j ] when 240 succumbed to dvsenteqr.' , ] i