AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9096, 23 May 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE PEARLING INDUSTRY. A COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY. Received May 22, 10.20 a.m. BRISBANE, May 22. A commission of enquiry regarding the pearling industry has commenced. Witnesses contend that the work could not be carried on profitably by white labour unless it was subsidised. AFFAIRS IN PAPUA. Received May 22, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 22. Mr Deakin, Federal Prime Minister, in reply to a question as to whether friction existed between German officials and British miners in Papua, said there had been ::o collision between the authorities. Certain British miners had been working over country belonging to Germany, but had paid the dues demanded without demur. The Commonwealth Government, Mr Deakin stated, had written to the Colonial Office asking it to arrange a meeting between British and German representatives to settle the boundary and other matters. A FAMOUS VIOLINIST. Received May 22, 10.26 a.m. SYDNEY, May 22. Kubelik was given an enthusiastic reception on arrival here.

THE BRAYBKOOK DISASTER. Received May 22, 9.55 p.m. MELBOURNE, May_22. At the inquest on the \ictimsof the Braybrook railway disaster, Bayley, a consulting engineer, gave evidence tha 1 ; the brakes on the Bendigo train were of the most inferior kind he had ever seen on a Victorian main line passenger train. Pespite this, however, the brakes wore sufficient to have stopped thQ train the accident. HORSES FOR GERMAN SOU JII WEST AFRICA. Received May 23, 12.50 a:lih SYDNEY, Mn'j' 22. Arrangements have been made for a shipment of five hundred horses to German South-West Africa oi: behalf of the Gertfmn Government. Further shipments from Australia and New Zealand aro to follow.