COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 83, 3 December 1912, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

I '' NORFOLK ISLAND. (By Electric Telegraph.-Copyright.) (United Press Association.) Melbourne, December 3. Mr Fisher, referring to Norfolk Islind said: “Wo shall probably take il but it will be as a duty and not as a good thing. The Imperial Government is nob keen, so far as 1 know either to retain it or part with It The Commonwealth nas enough to" do at home, but must face its duties in the Pacific. I do not favour special efforts to extend the Commonwealth s control in the Pacific, bub Australia does not desire other people crowding round her in the Pacific. That woiud bo no joke.

CRIME DUE TO DRINK. _ Sydney, December 2. King has been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. The judge said it must be remembered that, according to tiio evidence, the injury King’s wife received might have been comparatively trivial had it not been for the fact that King had been lar too drunk to take proper care pi her tie loped that when he came out King would give up drink altogether. | THE MELBOURNE FIRE. Melbourne, December 2. ■ft W as Ackland, not Martin, who received concussion in Saturday’s hre. iHo is in a critical condition, and is Inconecious. | MATERNITY BONUS CLAIMS. _ |Melbourne, December 2. | The maternity bonus claims aveiage 357 daily. The births m Australia total 400 daily; therefore 90 per cent, of the mothers are claiming the bonus. A PIANO-PLAYING- RECORD. Sydney, December 2. | Sydney Walter Brent, • after 100 |loura piano playing at Bathurst, claimed the world’s record.

I IMMIGRANTS FOR VICTORIA. Melbourne, December 2. : The State Government is negotiating to bring 20,000 immigrants in 'next year. government house. I y (Received 9.20 a.m.) I Sydney, December 3. 1 The Commonwealth has formally handed over Government House to the State Government, which lias proposed a big demonstration when possession is taken, ;■ Replying to a question as to whether the Government would allow the [■people to decide by referenda before finally deciding to desecrate the historic house, Mr McGowan declared that the Government had decided upon t a certain course and would take that course and accept the consequences. CHINESE BODIES FOUND. Port Darwin, December 3. The decaying bodies of two Chinese gardeners wove found beneath the ruins of a shed near Pino Creek. They /were terribly gashed and mutilated, and are supposed to have been muidei - :ed by natives. The police are investigating. • ) ; , WEST AUSTRALIA’S CEREALS. m' Perth, December 3. The officials estimate of the wheat yield is 9,389,000 bushels, an average of 12,1, and of the oat harvest 12,086,000 bushels.

WOOL SALES FIRM. ' The wool sales at Sydney .and Melbourne opened with strong and keen competition. AH classes realised full ■rates and the late weakness has disappeared. AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE COMMERCE. Lord Chelmsford opened the new commodious headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce. Referring to the opening of the Panama Canal and the development of trade with the East, Lord Chelmsford said that Australia, owing to its strategic position, should have a commanding place in commerce with the Orient and, perhaps, with that of the West Coast of South America’.

WIRELESS INQUIRY. (At the Marconi enquiry Captain Charlton, the Admiralty wireless expert, gave evidence that the Mai coni agreement of 1913 prevented the Admiralty communicating the wireless secrets to the colonies since the Australian Navy was not fitted with the i Admiralty system. This was very I awkward. Negotiations were prof cecding to rescind the clause. The | Ponlsen system had been tested and found undesirable for ships.