COMMONWEALTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 10, 9 March 1910, Page 7

COMMONWEALTH.

The secretary of the Australasian Tennis Association has received from the president of the L’nited States National Tennis Association a cable challenging for the Davis Cup this year. The Australasian Association has decided to suggest that the challenge round be played in New Zealand. Mr. John Foster Fraser has commenced a series of impressions of Australasia in the “Standard.” He summarises Adelaide for culture, Melbourne for business, and Sydney for pleasure. He adds that there is little genuine desire for immigrants.

News from the Solomon Islands states that the outlawed chief, Sito, and the rest of the gang, who terrorised the inhabitants of Vella Lavella. and were responsible for several murders of whites, were captured some few weeks ago. This gang murdered the native wife and family of a trader named Binskin, at Bagga, and the native police expedition organised by the British Commissioner resulted in the capture of 12 of Site’s gang, and the death of about 17 others, while resisting arrest.

The proceedings of the Wages Board for the settlement of the coal strike came to an abrupt termination, a telegram received from Melbourne stating that application was beingf made to the Commonwealth Arbitration Court with regard to the claims of the Engine-drivers' Association. The proprietors now have to show to the Federal Court why they should not be obliged to have that case heard all over again. It is now generally regarded as improbable that the settlement of the strike will be effected before Easter. The Federal Labour Party has issued an election manifesto. It has ten planks, amongst them the nationalisation of monopolies and insurance against unemployment. The drought in South Australia has broken, and heavy rains have fallen.