Cable News.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4627, 7 May 1915, Page 2

Cable News.

PRESS ASSOCIATIOX —COPYRIGHT. London, May 6. The boroughs throughout the Kingdom are holding a pound day for collecting food and fruit for Belgian soldiers in the trenches and hospitals. i\eiv York, This day. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press states that official announcement will be made this afternoon of the result of the ultimatum which" Japan sent to China. Sydney, This day. A feature of the heavy recruiting since the fighting in the Dardanelles is the large number of professional men offering. In connection with Belgian Day (May 11th), which is organising throughout the State, Victor Hugh. Ward offered £SOO if 19 others would contribute similarly. Already it is reported eleven have contributed. ■J udge Murry, Governor of Papua, visiting Sydney, is reported to be gratified at the development of the territory. The area under cultivation last year increased to 7500 acres, but is now -IH,OOO. An old idea that Japanese labor is required to cultivate rubber is exploded, as Papuans proved very apt at learning the business of planting. At the Premiers’ Conference, sitting in camera, Mr Pisher invited discussion on matters of interest to the Commonwealth, including strategic railway, covering a distance of -HIS miles from Perth to Brisbane. The Conference agreed to the necessity for the railway, but decided to got expert opinion. The Railway Commissioners of the Stales interested obtained news of the various points involved, including the New South Wales scheme for utilising to a greater extent the existing lines than the Commonwealth proposal provides, thereby saving £1,000,000 out of £12,000,000 of the estimated cost, it being understood that tiro Commonwealth constructs the works and pays for the line.

A still southerly gale, rough seas aud heavy monsooual rains on the coast and tableland flooded Sneddon’s and Back Creek collieries at Newcastle, so that they are standing idle.

Mkujooumk, This day. The sentences imposed on three members of the New Guinea Expeditionary Force who received three years in connection with alleged looting have been remitted. Two other similar sentences are reduced to nine months. The sixth case is reduced from four to one year. Details of the capture on 23rd Apr il of the schooner Elfrenda show that she was returning from a trading trip amongst the Islands when she was seized at Tonga by warships. The British flag was hoisted and a prize crew placed aboard. It is understood she is to be sent to Suva and dealt with by the Prize Con it. She belonged to a German firm with large trading interests in

tin* Group. She is registered at Tonya, and Mew the Tougan flag.