THE COMMONWEALTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14274, 15 August 1910, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH.

Ttcss Aseociation-By Telegraph-Copyright DEFACED SiLYER COINS. j SYDNEY, August 13. The bunks and mint have decided io' refuse wilfully defaced silver coins ex-, cept at their intrinsic value. DROUGHT IN THE ISLANDS. !j The captain of the steamer Muniaraj! states that the Gilbert Islands arosuf-j leriug severely from a long drought, j I .he Government are supplying the mi-j fives with stores. f; P THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. fc A deputation asked Mr Fisher, the'Federal Premier, to advance money for j the erection of central sugar mills. Mr ! Fisher replied that the matter was one for the State. There were constitutional difficulties ill the way. otherwise the Federal Government would not hesitate. The time was near when the . Commonwealth would have power to} appoint a tribunal to adjust paymentsbetween the patties in the sugar in-1 dustry.

A LIBERA L OFFER. Tn inviting ihc British Association for the Advancement of Science to hold a mooting in Australia, the Government is offering £10.00(1 towards the expenses. FTVF. YEARS FOR FRAFT). The trial of John Black, charged with" stealing moneys from Ficedman, Ltd., concluded with a verdict of guilty, and a recommendation to mery. Mr Justice Rurnside said that prisoner had backed up serious frauds with perjury, ami sentenced him to five years' hard labour.

THE DOMINION'S FLAG. The Minister of Defence suggests that the Dominion's naval flags be discussed at the next Imperial Conference. MARKET FOR FRUIT. The Fruit Growers' Conference at Hobart decided to exploit New York as a market for fruit. JUVENILE HOUSEBREAKER. A twelve-year-old buy pleaded guilty to five ehargis of housebreaking, and was sent to a reformatory. CHARGE OF MURDER, Two seamen from the Prometheus, Edward Nixon and Henry Stark, have been charged with the murder of an old man, found dying in Elizabeth street, Brisbane, from injuries to his head. The prisoners were remanded.