FIJI UNDER AUSTRALIAN FLAG

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2442, 22 April 1915, Page 6

FIJI UNDER AUSTRALIAN FLAG

QUESTION IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

Sydney, April 21. Mr. Fisher, Federal Prime Minister, questioned regarding a Fiji correspondent's statement that it was rumoured that Fiji was likely to be brought under the direct control of Australia, said that he could give no deiinite information, because he had not received any. It was quite unlikely chat anything would be dono in the matter till the end of the war

The "Daily Telegraph" points out that Mr. Fisher does not deny that a transfer is to be made, and adds: "There are indications that the report is correct."

THE LOSS OF THE ENDEAVOUR

OFFICIAL'INQUIRY OPENED. . Melbourne, April 21. The inquiry into the loss of ths trawler Endeavour has opened. An ex-captain and engineer, gave evidence that with a beam or following sea the trawler took a lot of water. The centre of gravity was too high.

OBITUARY

EX-MAYOR OF SYDNEY

.. _ Sydney, April 21' Sir W. P. Manning, ii.B., j 8 dead. [.Sir William Patrick Manning (bora at Sydney in 1845), was chairman of the Australian Bank of Commence, and four times Mayor of Sydney. From 1893 to 1895 lie was a member of the Legislative Assembly for South Sydney. He was a Follow of St. John's College within ths University of Sydney, and a Knight of St. Gregory. For more than twenty years ho was President of the Royal Philharmonic Society at Sydney.] A PROMINENT ORANGEMAN. . Sydney, April 21. Tho death is announced of Mr. John Wheeler, a Past Grand Master of tho Loyal Orange Institution. BARON DE REUTER'S TRAGIC DEATH. London, April 20. At an inquest concerning the death of Baron Herbert de Reuter a verdict of suicide while suffering temporary insanity was returned.. The evidence wer.t to show that he had spent many hours beside his wile's body, and that when the undertaker arrived he went to his study and wrote a letter "to the spirit of njy dear wife," desiring that tie letter be placed on her coffin. In the letter he 6aid he would be buried in her gTave. Ho then committed suicide in a summerhouse, whither a dog led a gardenei when search, was being made for him.

GERMAN MISSIONS IN NEW GUINEA ALLEGED HARDSHIPS. / (Kec. April 21, 9.35 p.m.) ' Melbourne, April 21. Mi. Lewis Harcourt (Secretary of State for the Colonies) has asked the authorities to inquire into the welfare of 'the German Missions Society of the Divine Word, in New Guinea. It appears that siuce tho outbreak of the war no news has been received of them, and the belligerent Governments have been asked to mitigate the hardships the missions are suffering, allow communication with Komo, and give security for the transmission, of funds.-

Mr. Mahon (for the Federal Government) states that he is not aware of the position of the missions, but ha> promised an investigation. CABLED NEWS IN BRIEF ARGENTINE WHEAT FOR VICTORIA. Melbourne, April 21. The first steamer _ chartered by tlx Government has arrived from Argon tine with 6800 ton 6 of wheat. SMALLPOX ON A STEAMER AT MELBOURNE. , Melbourne, April 21. The steamer Lord Derby has arrived from Rangoon. A sailor on. board is suffering from smallpox. ■ RIFLE CLTIB BOOM IN AUSTRALIA (Kec. April 21, 9.35 p.m.) Melbourne, April 21. The rifle clubs in the Commonwealth new total 1318 in number, with a membership of 67,036. PROHIBITION IN AMERICA. (Rec. April 21, 11.25 p.m.) New York, April 20. Eight additional towns and villages in the State of Illinois have adopted prohibition. SPLENDID RAINS IN AUSTRALIA'* Sydney, April 20. Widespread beneficial rains have fallen in the Riverina, Victoria, South 'Australia, and Tasmania. AMERICAN HAY FOR VICTORIA'. Melbourne, April 20. The State Government has arranged for the importation of twenty-thro< thousand tons of American hay.