CABLES FROM AUSTRALIA

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 8, 10 January 1901, Page 4

CABLES FROM AUSTRALIA

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighi Sydney, Jan. 8.

Mr Seddon, speaking at the trades union gathering, claimed that the nobility of labor had at length been recognised. He traced the history of the labor movement, showing how from the goldfields freedom of speech had been secured to the workers. He said it was not the blaok labor of the Queensland sugar plantations that the white workers of Australia had to be afraid of, but the cheap labor of the Continent, from Germany, Belgium, and even from America. He urged the workers of Australia to set an example to the workers of the Mother Country and endeavor by every means to bring about a federation of labor.

January 9. The New Zealand troops return by the Tutanekai to-day.

Visitors are unstinted in theirpraise of the Government’s treatment? Hr Seddon says t the hospitality has been boundless.

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly refused to take part in the Commonwealth procession because, by order of Downing street, Noncoin - formist churches had been given a minor position, incompatable with religious equality. Mr Dickson, late Queensland Premier, a member of the Federal Cabinet, is ill of diabetes, dangerously.

The National Rifle Association commenced to-day, there being a large attendance. For the Queen’s Victoria match, with prizes, amounting to £IOOO, the top scorer was Private Gargett, Victoria, 98 ; Robinson, New Zealand, made 88, while other New Zealanders scored as under:—Loveday 87, McCarthy and Winslade 85, J. Wilson 83, and Ballinger 82. At the Military Sports the New South Wales Lancers beat the Imperial men in the Balaclava Melee Competition. The proceedings closed with an exciting representation of a fight on the Indian frontier between the Indian and Imperial Troops. The Daily Telegraph says a remarkable incident occurred during the Commonwealth procession. The sweltering heat of the day severely told upon some of the troops, especially the Englishmen. The firemen of a subiu’ban brigade, recognising their plight, had buckets of water, and not only the file, but some of the officers gladly accepted. A disciplinarian, one of the officers, rose at the idea of this state of military ceremony, and interfered with drawn sword, and struck one of the firemen on the head. He was badly hurt, and fainted, and it was some time before he recovered sufficiently to allow of treatment. The Daily Telegraph says the alleged threat to deport a Fiji missionary for advocating federation with New Zealand calls imperatively for investigation. The question involved is more important than whether the missionary exceeded his privileges. A determined attack had been made by a reputable person on the Crown colony system. Another reason for investigation of the political conditions of those islands generally is that the High Commissioner recently made a speech attacking the colonial-governing system. He thus himself would seem to have exceeded his functions. Melbourne,’ Jan. 8. Last year 168 insolvency schedules were filed, the total debts being over £93,000. - The net deficiency was £57,000. The wheat harvest in the early districts has almost been completed. The returns are better than were expected. January 9. The Collector of Customs holds that under the Federal Constitution any Chinaman who is a British subject will be able to demand free admission to New South Wales.