AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 997

AUSTRALIA.

The Federal Government is taking steps to secure for itself tlic coinuge of si’ver for Australia. At the .Adelaide wheel meeting Chalmers," of New Zealand, won the live mile race from scratch in llmin. 1 2-ssees. An Admiralty cable message revere i d in Sydney states that the eruieer Niobe leaves England in June with a crew of 7(K> offices and men; to replace the Royal Arthur as the Hag-ship on the Australian station. The Royal Arthur and erew have lieen ordered Home. [The Niobe is a first-class . cruiser of 11,000 tons burden, and was launched in 1897. Her speed is 20} knots, maintained by engines of 10.500 horse-power. Her burden is 11,000 tons, and she carries 10 guns.] At. Krukofi', the Russ ian agricultural expert, is making strong charges of want of cleanliness in some of the butter and other factories which be visited in the Southern States. He said that Australian butter inclined to be good naturally, but. the people were inclined to be lazy and neglect much of the work. He declares that some of the jam factories were so dirty that they would be closed on the Continent. Speaking for himself, he would not eat the jam. A deputation representing the Federated Employers’ Association interviewed Sir E. Barton with reference to the proposed Federal Conciliation and Arbitration Bill.

The deputation generally opposed inclusion of the' principle of compulsion. One speaker- quoted authorities to show that compulsion ill New Zealand had produced strife instead of conciliation. Sir E. Barton replied that the bill would provide for compulsory arbitration. The logic of fitets had taught him that voluntary arbitration could act be a .success. He spoke favourably of the i "sells of the Nev. Zealand Act. THE BERTH MURDER. The Full Court at Perth has quashed the conviction of five out of the six prisoners for the murder of Lauffer. the conviction of Maillot alone was eonfirined. [lt- will be remembered that Laffer was a vlgneroa, and that the prisoners, nearly alt of whom were foreigners, visited his vine yard. On efusing to supply the party with wine, Maillot shot him dead. I THE VANCOUVER SERVICE. b-ir E. Barton had a conversation on April 1 with Air. .Tallies Mills in respect to the Vancouver mail service. A propo sition had been submitted by the. company," and a counter proposal by the Government. The probabilities, as far as eon be" judged, are that the existing contract, with possibly some minor alteration, will be continued for a time. Negotiations for an improved and accelerated .service are in the meantime proceeding. TWO jtURDEROUS ASSAULTS. At Millar’s Point, Sydney, on April 2nd, a man named Henry Dillon. in a fit of jealousy, attacked his lover, Mary Jones, with a razor, ami inflicted nasty wounds upon her head "and breast. Tie then shot her sister, who was coining to her assistance. The latter's condition is serious. Dillon kept the police at bay for some time by throwing pottery and other articles. A miner named Heber inflicted terrible wounds on his wife’s head, then with n tomahawk cut her throat, and finally with a razor his own. The condition of the woman is hopeless. TURNED OUT. The Tasmanian elections took place on April 2nd, and resulted in the complete overthrow of the Government, the Opposition sweeping the polls. Eor the first time in the history of the State

the whole of th* Ministers have been defeated. Eighteen new members will take their seats in the Assembly out ut a total of 3d. The Oppositionists and Reformist* returned number 21. Ministerialists (», Independents 4. and Labour 4. The defeat of the Government is attributed to the income tax proposals carried Ia«sl season, amt the non-com-pliance with the public demand for political reform. The result is a unique position, and the developments of which are uncertain. The Government will resign after the Faster holidays. In the new Assembly there will not be a single member, excepting the Speaker, who has previously held a ministerial portfolio. The new Parliament will contain an overwhelming majority in favour of the reduction of members and the repeal of the personal exemption in the Income Tax Act. passed last session. Sir N. E. Lewis, at the request of Mr Propsting, who will be asked to form a Ministry, delays his resignation for a few days. VA NCOWER SERVICE. , l he “Sydney Morning Herald,” dealing with Sir Joseph Ward’s statement that the New Zealand Government was anxious to have the Vancouver service extended there, bat that it could not be done if Brisbane as well : s Sydney remained a port of call, says that there could, of course, be no objection to the extension of (he service to New Zea lain I, provided that its benefits were not thereby diverted from the British territories which had established and subsidised it. before the advent of federation. The co-operation of New Zealand in the service would doubtless have its advantages. but these would be too dearly bought, if they meant the omission of any of the. present ports of call, especially in regard 1o the maintenance of the AllRod route.