COMMONWEALTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 16, 14 October 1908, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH.

A whale, 97 feet long, was killed h| Twofold Bay on Wednesday last. An anonymous donor has forwarded a cheque for £lOOO to the Queensland Bushl Brotherhood. Correspondence for the reduction of Suez Canal dues is proceeding between the Commonwealth and the Board of Trade. The estate of the late Mr. W. P. Crick (ex-Minister for Lands) is valued foe probate purposes at £9900. He died intestate. The first touch of summer was experienced in Sydney on Wednesday last, the thermometer registering over 90 degrees in the shade. Three respectable, unoffending citizens were kicked into insensibility by a gang of roughs in the heart of the city last of roughs in the heart of Melbourne last week. Sir Joseph Carruthers, ex-Premier of N.S.W., who resigned his seat in the Legislative Assembly prior to his visit to England, has been given a seat in the Upper House. The Rev. Wiltshire, Anglican minister of Euroa, while endeavuoring to get a good position to view the scenery in the mountains, fell over a cascade, a "distance of 180 feet, and was killed. The trial of Milburn and Dolman, the engine-drivers charged with manslaughter in connection with the Braybrook 1 ail way disaster on Easter Monday, resulted in the acquittal of both. The Treasurer of South Australia estimates the revenue for tjie ensuing year at £3,381,000, and the surplus at £71,923. The estimate is based on the expectation of a 10 bushel harvest. The High Court has decided that a Chinese born in Victoria, who left the State when 5 years old and returned from China when 31, is not a prohibited immigrant, and that his domicile is still in Victoria.

The breach of promise action brought by Miss Ivy Salvin, an English lady novt in Sydney, claiming £5,000 damages against Mr. Bigwood (husband of Miss Carrie Moore, actress) for breach of promise, will not come into Court, a settlement having been reached under which,- it is understood, Miss Salvin will receive a certain sum of money and the impounded motor car. Business is Business. Referring to the Commonwealth telegraphic business Mr. Hesketh, chief electrician of tiie Telegraph Department, in giving evidence before the Postal Commission, said it should he made to pay. It was unsound policy to charge 9d for a, telegram which cost tenpence to send. He did not know that the New Zealand Department of Post and Telegraphs showed a profit of £lOO,OOO last year on a basis of penny postage and sixpenny telegrams. Perhaps that result had been achieved without providing for payment of interest on capital. Big Defalcation. At the Quarter Sessions, Sydney, Montague Livingstone, late treasurer at Hea Majesty’s Theatre, pleaded guilty to stealing £lO3 19/0, the property of Mr. J. C. Williamson. The Crown Prosecutor stated that the total deficiency was between £5OOO and £OOOO. The frauds were conducted by means of false signatures. Prisoner was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment with hard labour. The sentence was afterwards reduced to two, years, on the strength of sureties for the restitution of £5OO of Mr. Williamnson’s missing money. Tire Wreck of the Aeon. Captain Downie, of the steamer Aeon, was interviewed when the Manuka arrived Brisbane with the Aeon’s rescued passengers on board, and contradicted the statement that the Chinese seamen -behaved in an unseemly manner at the time the vessel struck. Their conduct was all that could be desired, especially under such trying circumstances. Ho added that the statement that they “ grabbed! the lifebelts ” was absolutely incorrect.

After hearing the report of Captain Downie concerning the condition of the •wrecked steamer Aeon the owners, Afcssra Howard, Smith and Co., have decided to abandon her to the underwriters, and formal notification to this effect has been put in.

A Question of Preaente. - - - ’ The solicitors for Miss Salvin and Mr. Bigwood (Miss Carrie Moore’s husband), who is being sued by Miss Salvin for breach of promise, have agreed that neither party touch the motor car which Digwood is said to have presented to plaintiff. The proposed application for an injunction has, therefore, been waived. State Jealousy. Discussing the second reading of the Stamp Act Amendment Bill several members strongly criticised under-cutting between State and State. The bill had been forced >n Victoria by New South Wales abolishing the stamp duties, giving Sydney businessmen an undue advantage Over Victorian traders. The trend of tha debate is not calculated to dispel the existing jealousy between the two States. Australian Defence. In the Federal House of Representatives, during the Defence Bill debate, Mr. D. H. Reid, criticising Mr. Deakiu’s naval scheme, said that if Australia wanted to go for a naval scheme let her do so, but there was no necessity to endeavour to fret out of the payment of £200,000 for the magnificent protection they got from the British fleet. He thought the British fleet was sufficient for them for the next 10 years, supplemented by the present defence force, enlarged and improved. An Aid to Navigation. A very satisfactory trial of a ship’s course deviation recorder was made aboard the steamer Maheno on her voyage from Wellington by the inventors, Messrs. Rissell and Hennah, of New Zealand. Tho apparatus evoked great interest among the quartermasters, who vied with bno another ia the record of steering capabilities as indicated by the apparatus. Vass Selected for the federal Capital. The Federal House of Representatives presented an animated scene on Thursday, the occasion of the balloting for tho Capital sue. Of the 11 sites submitted it was evident, after the first ballot, that the only two really in the running were Dalgety and Yass. Up to the sixth ballot Dalgety Was leading. On the seventh the voting was equal. The ninth and final ballot resulted as follows: — .Yass 39 Dalgety 33 When Yass-Canberra site was selected shore was loud cheering from all parts of the House, the advocates of Dalgety alone sitting silent. In voting Victoria cast 6 votes for Yass and 16 for Dalgety; New South Wales 24 Yass, 8 Dalgety; Queensland, 5 Yass, 4 Dalgety; 'Adelaide, 1 Yass, 4 Dalgety; Westralia, 6 Dalgety; Tasmania, 3 Yass, 2 Dalgety. Yass, 190 miles south-west of Sydney, is on the Yass River, and on the line of railway between Sydney and Melbourne. The census population is 2,200. Dalgety was chosen three years ago, but was strongly objected to by the New South Wales Government. The Commonwealth Parliament is bound to fix the capital site in New South Wales; to fix it at least 100 miles from Sydney; and to take at least 100 square miles iof territory, and as much more as it might deem necessary for the Federal dignity. 900 square miles was chosen at Dalgety, but the State Government refused to grant the territory. Steamers in Collision. A collision occurred at Sydney on Get. C between the steamer Mintaro, outward bound, and the Walruna, while the latter Uvas shining her berth. The Mintaro was considerably damaged, her forepeak being full of water, and she had to return. The iWairuna had two plates above the water lino damaged. Insurance Companies at Variance. 'A writ was issued against the National Mutual Life Association by the Mutual Dife and Citizens’ Company, claiming £lO.OOO for the publication In Hobart and other places in Tasmania certain Bocuments alleged to bo libellious, and f or the publication at various plates In Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania of certain issues of tho “Clarion” newspaper.

British Trade. British imports for September Increased by £2,693,000. Exports decreased by £3,535,000, and re-exports by £654,000, compared with the previous September. Cruelty to Children. An inquiry by the Sydney Teachers* Association into child labour and school attendance, disclosed shocking cases of sweating by parents. Children were absent for four or five months from school during the rabbiting season, and received 3s. or 4s. weekly, while they only got four hours sleep in 24. Equally arduous conditions were proved to obtain in the dairying industry, and it was shown that legislation is needed to bring relief to children of tender years. The parents in many cases are well to-do, and generally speaking are not The lioch Finlas Wreck. The finding of the Court of Inquiry into the wreck of the barque Loch Finlas has been forwarded to the Treasury. The Court, in its decision, states that (lie loss of the barque was due to the gross carelessness of those responsible for her navigation. The vessel steered too close to the land, and it is doubtful if a reliably look-out was kept.