Australian Items.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXV, Issue 3944, 24 November 1908, Page 3

Australian Items.

Sydney, November 23. The punitive expedition to punish the murderers of the Grey family, at Santos island, New Hebrides, consisted of native police and an armed party from H.M.s. Prometheus. The expedition surprised the village tribe concerned in the murder, but the inhabitants made a dash for the hills. The native police fired, and six women and a child were shot. When the mail left the party was still pursuing the murderers. The German Consul-General characterises the suggestion that Germany micht be glad to annex New Caledonia is senseless, and say 3 Germany has all the territory she wants in the South Seas. She has no more notion of attempting to acquire New Caledonia than France has of making her a present of it. Obituary: Sir Arthur Renwiek; aged 72. Melbou-ne, November 23. Dr. Coulter, Deputy Postmaster of Canada, is a passenger for New Zealand by the s.s. Warrimoo. Trie Federal Postmaster General, Mr Joseph Thomas, strongly advocates the "All Red" cable route. He is willing, with Cabinet's sanction, to negotiate with Canada, Ne'.v Zealand, an Britain for the purchase of an Atlantic cable to the Canadian lundline. Mr Scott, secretary of the Central Postal Department, does not understand the statement as to the unsatisfactory relationship between the Commonwealth and the Union, S.S. Company. He says a number of tentative proposals were made, and the Government communicated with the Canadian Government concerning them, but have not received any reply.