COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 24, 21 September 1912, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) NO POSSIBILITY OP MISTAKE.. (Received 8.35 a.in.) Sydney, September 20. Mr Gale, as the result of comparisons, declares there is not a possihil ity of the comet being identical with Westphall’s comet.

RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY FIGURES.

For the year ended June 30th, the State railways and the tramways carried over 337,000,000 passengers. There were 513 injured on the railways, including 68 fatally, and 1166 on the tramways, including 28 fatally. A great majority were caused through personal carelessness or trespassing on the lines.

BURGLARS AT A BOOT SHOP. Melbourne, September 20. Burglars utilising a cart stole £l3Ol, 'worth of leather from the premises o. Peatts, boot manufacturers, Collingwood. Two hundred and fifty pounds worth of loot, left in the yard, wa; recovered. THE MATERNITY BONUS. ' - Melbourne, September 20. Mr Fisher was cheered when introducing the Maternity Bonus Bill. The bonus is to be administered by commissioners, and provides £5 for every child born in Commonwealth territory', or between ports. Nothing additional is to be paid when there is more than one child at one birth. Aboriginal, Pacific Island, Papuan and Asiatic mothers iare barred. The Bill strictly provides against fraud.

THE SYDNEY HIGHWAY MAN Sydney, September 20

George Cooling, perpetrator of the hotel sensations, was remanded on charges of stealing £2 from Durracq’s Hotel and maliciously shooting at the younger Durracq. He was bailed for £SOO. Cooling urged that ho had been drinking, and was irresponsible for his actions. Ho had not intended to steal or do anything else. THE COAL VEND. Sydney, September 20. Thd High Court upheld the shipping companies’ appeal in the Coal Vend Case, thus upsetting the conviction of Mr Justice Isaacs. Altogether, there were sixteen grounds of appeal, the chief one being that upon the whole the evidence of the appellants entitled them to judgment in all matters alleged against them ; that the judgment of Mr Justice Isaacs was erroneous, both as regards conclusions of fact Bind the law applicable ,to those facts; that evidence was wrongly admitted. Tue Chief Justice concluded a lengthy judgment by saying that a Court was bound to decide a case on the evidence. Up ,a that evidence the Court were of opinion that the Crown had failed to prove intent on the part of appellants to cause deteriment to the public, and also they were of opinion that the Crown 1 had failed to prove any actual detriment to the public. The Court’s Vend decision was ua-j animous. Judgment was entered for appellants, with the original costs and the costs of the appeal. (Received 9.40 a.m.) Sydney, September 21. The Daily Telegraph, commenting on the Vend case, says: “As far as tao unbiassed lay mind can see daylight through a thicket of legal technicalities ' wherein the facts are obscured, the Vend decision w;ll have the endorsement of the country’s commonsense.”

Tho Herald says: “The luminous judgment draws what most will comment upon the proper distinction of lawful combinations to the detriment of the public. The whole case turned upon the word detriment. The judgment indicates that defendants were taking the steps they did for the preservation of a trade and tho maintenance of wages. Tho employees did nothing unlawful and contrary to the conserved interests of workmen and themselves. ” THE FATAL FOOTBOARD. Sydney, September 20. The tram conductors have won the anti-footboard crusade. An official circular has been issued, containing stringent regulations against footboarding.

EARLY-CLOSING IN N.S.W

Sydney, September 20,

There is considerable outcry at some of the provisions of the amended EarlyClosing lAct, particularly at butchers not being allowed to open on one late night weekly. Hairdressers and. tobacconists are allowed one late night, and the rest of the tradespeople must close at seven o’clock. Chemists are allowed one night until nine, and the rest at six o’clock. In each case a weekly half-holiday is provided.

THE COLONIAL MUTUAL. (Received 10.15 a.m.) Melbourne, September 21. The chairman of directors of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Association says: “We have a full and complete reply to all charges and in vito those anxious to have the fullest investigation. Meantime we are asking the public to suspend a judgment.”

IMPROVING PRISON LIFE. (Received 9.40 a.m.) Sydney, September 21. It is proposed to establish a prism newspaper as part of a- scheme tr make prisoners’ life more endurable. In 1892 the gaol population in New South Wales was 1899, and. now it is 1019. A CHECK. In an account opened at a leading city bank, a cheque presented to tinledger keeper for £8 was returned initialled, and the drawer converted the amount to £BO and it was cashed.

The banks arc altering their system to checkmate such cases. ROBBERY AND CRIME. Six further robberies are reported of jewellery and clothing to a total of £l4O. Two men returning home last night were assaulted and robbed. The ordinary police patrols are being strengthened at night and a patrol similar to Melbourne’s Being hastily organised. BILLIARDS. Melbourne, September 21. .Scores: Harverson 6350, Lindrum 5718.