COMMONWEALTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 11, 14 March 1908, Page 9

COMMONWEALTH.

Mr Bowman has been re-elected Leader of the Queensland Labour party. The Sydney brewers propose to advance the price of ale and stout. The Sydney City Council’s income last year was £18,677 in excess of expenditure. Heavy floods and railway washaways are repored in the Far North of Australia. All the Australian States are participating in the testimonial to the cricketer Noble. A fishing-boat capsized ,at Newcastle and two men. named Taafe and Burkitt were drowned. Major Wardill, secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club, fell from a train and was severely injured. Two aboriginals have been discovered at Signet Bay, West Australia, in an advanced state of leprosy. The death is announced of Dr. Howitt, the aged leader of the relief party sent in quest of the explorers Burke and Wills in 1861. The Senate lias swept off 5 per cent of the foreign duty on many agricultural implements and cutlery, placing them on the free list. The Australian National Rifle Association of Sydney is inviting teams from the various parts of the Empire to compete in the Jubilee Meeting next year. Exceptionally heavy rains have fallen between Roma and Cunnamulla. The rivers are flooded, and much of the country submerged, the railways being blocked. The barque Inveresk has arrived at Adelaide from DelagOa Bay with fever on board. One seaman died and six others were attacked, but are recovering. The voyage occupied 62 days. Mr Leahey has been elected Speaker of the Queensland House of Representatives, a deadlock that took place being ended by the Government and Opposition parties uniting against the Labour party. Two fatal cycling accidents are. reported from Melbourne. A boy named Rowe was ruling at Richmond when he was impaled by the shaft of a passing vehicle. In the other case a man named Price was killed by collision with a cab at the same place. Advices received at Perth indicate the likelihood that the P. and 0. Company will terminate its contract with the Imperial Government for the carriage of the Australian mails in the event of the Navigation Bill's being placed on the Statute Book. Mr. J. H. Carruthers, ex-Premier of New South Wales, was entertained at a citizens’ banquent in the Town Hall prior to his departure for England to act as Commissioner of the Franeo-Bri-tish Exhibition. He was presented with a valuable diamond penuant for Mrs. Carruthers in recognition of his services to the State.

Duties of a Governor. The comie opera conception of the whole duty of ornamental persons and institutions is proved to be absolutely accurate. We all remember W. S. Gilbert’s quip:— “When Wellington licked Bonaparte, As any child can tell, The House of Lords throughout that war Did nothing in particular, And did it very well!” Now we find Sir Harry Rawson, the bluff, genial Governor of New South Wales, defining the duties of a colonial Viceroy as “doing nothing, and being very careful how he does it.” It is not so much what he does as the pleasant way he does it that makes a Governor’s term a successful one.