AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8150, 26 May 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

EMPIRE DAY. Received May 25, 10.40 a.m. NORFOLK ISLAND, May 25. Empire Day was observed as a publio holiday. The Chief Magistrate entertained all the inhabitants at a party in Government House ground. In South Australia, Tasmania and Westralia fine weather favoured the celebrations. Much enthusiasm was displayed, and there was a great display of bunting. Received May 25, 10.20 a.m. SYDNEY, May 25. The Governor - General, Lord Northcote, and the British Empire League of Australia sent an Empire Day message to King Edward. WRECK OF A FRENCH BARQUE. Recieved May 25, 9.15 a m. SYDNEY, May 25, The vessel ashore at Manly is the French barque, Venoennes, from Yokohama, in ballast for orders. She arrived off the heads yesterday afternoon, and signalled for a pilot. A gale was raging at the time, and the weather was too thick for the signals to be seen at the pilot station. The vessel gradually drifted ashore on the Ocean Beach; She now lies broadside to the sea, on an even keel, and is embedded in the sand. 1 Shortly after she struck, four of the orew managed to reach the shore in a boat, greatly exhausted. The pilot steamer went to the soene, but the sea was too rough to render ./•The steamer stood by the vessel. tj This morning the Weather is calm and at low water it was almost possible to walk aboard, there being only about four feet of water where the vessel lies. She had settled in the sand and there are good prospeots of salving if the weather holds good. The balance of the crew remain on board. , A PROTEST. Received May 25, 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, May 25, A large meeting, held in the Town Hall last night, the auspices of the Orange bodies, adopted a petition to the King declaring that the Home Rule resolutions recently adopted by the Federal Parliament did not represent the opinion of the people of Australia. Mr Reid was the principal speaker at the meeting. RABBIT EXTERMINATION. Received May 25, 10.30 a.m. ADELAIDE, May 25. The Government strongly protests against Dr Danyßz's rabbit extermination experiments. W. N. WILLIS. SYDNEY, May 25. The Full Court recently reversed a decision by Justice Simpson, who granted a commission to examine W. N. Willis in Soath Africa in connection with a certain land transaction, but the High Court to-day granted an appeal against the Fall Court's decision, and ordered the commission to issue. MR SEDDON'S VISIT. THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. Received May 25, 16.40 a.m. SYDNEY, May 25. The Sydney Morning Herald, commenting on Mr Seddon's remarks on the New Hebrides, says:—"lt is rather late to call as he does to New Zealand and Australia to combine and say there shall be only one flag —the Union Jack—dominating the Pacifio, but it is not too late to wake up to the knowledge of the fact that British statesmen are open to listen to our representations on the subject, and even waiting for them." Received May 26, 1.21 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 25. Mr Seddon told an interviewer, prior to his . departure for Adelaide, that he and Mr Deakin were working on parallel lines with regard to the' New Hebrides, "We must try and get the islands entirely in British hands," said, Mr Seddon. Asked how he would get rid of the French, Mr Seddon replied: 'By giving them concessions elsewhere. I think we can find them concessions in the Pacific." He mentioned that he had ascertained from the Frenoh Consul while in Sydney that the French Government had no intention of establishing a penal settlement at Tahiti or elsewhere in the Pacific. IMPORTED AND LOCAL SPIRITS. Reoeived May 25, 9.58 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 25.""" The progress report on distillation states that there has been an immense inorease in the production of spirits from molasses in New South Wales and Queensland. Australian distillers are at a great disadvantage in competing with imported spirits owing to the higher cost of labour and of materials and production, and looal prejudice against Australian prodaotione. The commission recommended that in order to equalise the conditions there should be a substantial difference in the duty on imported and looal spirits.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. FLOODS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Received May 26, 1.33 a.m. SYDNEY, May *25. SomA of the northern rivers are flooded. The low-lying porton south of Murwillaujbah is under water. According to the latest reports the rivers are falling. RIFLE MATOE. ' Received May 26, 1.27 a.m. SYDNEY, May 25. A team from the Japanese warship tired a match against a Rifle Association team. The visitors were badly beaten. The Australians made 300, and the Japanese 186. MONOPOLIES. Reoeived May 25, 9.30 a.m. BRISBANE, May 25. The Employers' Conference oarried a resolution denouncing the nationalisation of monopolies.