AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1916, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

WRECK OF A BARQUE.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.

Sydney ,June 2S. Eleven of the Ma.nunui's crew have arrived by the French mail steamer. Captain Robertson states that the barque was wrecked on May -20 near the Pelotes Reef, Surprise Island. After discharging coal at Noumea she was proceeding to Surprise Island to load guano for Auckla-nd. A strong current set the vessel on the reef, the main mast fell, and the vessel turned on her beam ends and became a hopeless wreck. Tire crew stood by until daylight, but were forced to abandon the vessel, and were rescued, by the manager of the island. Next day the vessel began to break up. The crew spent three days on Surprise Island, chartered a cutter, and proceeded to New Caledonia, thence to Noumea. A STRONG INDICTMENT.

Sydney, June 28. The Herald, in a special article on the growth of the gambling evil in connection with racecourses, urges the necessity of reducing racing. The paper declares that the main features of the Gambling Act have been defeated, and pony and galloway racing have developed into a carnival of gambling, from which the element of sport is entirely eliminated. Those following the game are mostly young men, who would be of much greater benefit to the community if they were helping to fight for the country. It was high time the Government took steps to abate the evil. Referring to the admittance of children of tender years to racecourees, the Herald says that the programmes an some courses necessitate severe physical strain on the most hardened bookmaker or punter. It is a degrading spectacle to see a child being drawn into the vortex of the betting ring by a mother intent on backing her fancy at the cost of the comfort of her offspring.

GENERAL ITEMS. Sydney, June 28. The Government has decided to release Ohidley, provided he guarantees that he will not lecture to mixed audiences or send circulars to women. Another of the E. A. Company's steamers, the Empire, has been sold to Home buyers. It is proposed to replace it by a new and larger steamer. A settlement is expected between the Political Labor League Executive and the State Government on the conscrip- | tiqn issue, in order to present a united front at the elections.

A meeting of the Pastoralists' Union at Walgett refused the shearer's' demands of 30s per 100. No sheds have commenced and there are no prospects I of shearing before October | Sydney, June 28.

[ The Federal. Statistician reports tlut there are 452,<318 fit men in the Commonwealth between the ages of 18 and i 44 w(ho have not enlisted, or, if they, have enlisted, have not yet gone into camp. A last chance will be given to those who have failed to return their census card. If this chance is neglected prosecutions will follow. The newspaper "Sun" prominently notifies that from Monday next it will start the publication of a new and enlarged cable service, including Reuters Imperial News Service. The paper says that the Sun service previously fell a little short of perfection, but this will be now remedied as from Monday, and will also embody everything tftiat Eeuter obtains from its world-wide service of representatives.

I Melbourne, June 27. The Wheat Board decided to wind up the wheat pool at the end of September and form another pool to deal with next season's crop. I The total Australian casualties are:— Dead, 8209; wounded, 19,657; missing, 936; sick, 22,869; prisoners, 67; nature of casualty unknown, 295. Melbourne, June 27. The Coaling Corps, which lias been formed to prevent delay in coaling transports owing to labor troubles, will commence operations on July 1. The agreement provides that under no circumstances shall work cease or a strike extend to the battalion while engaged on a naval vessel. It gives the Navy department the first call; Labor members and union officials are given honorary ranks in tlie Naval Reserve.

Mn Jensen, Minister for the Navy, failed to accede to the demand if the Seamen's Union to pay firemen on Ships overtime rates for dumping ashes. The crews withdrew. Mr. Jensen immediately replaced them with naval reservists, and the ships sailed.