AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1918, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

ABOfftIGBUIJS IN NEW SOOTH 1 .WALES. Received July 12, 8.40 p.m. Sydney, July 12. The report of the Aborigines' Board shows that there are only 1665 fullblooded aborigines left in New South Wales, an increase of fiG during the year. The half-breeds total 6833, an increase of 1012. A CLERGYMAN'S ALLEGATIONS. Sydney, July 12. The Rev, Hammond, giving evKenca before the Senate Committee, which is inquiring into the drink question, stated 1 that considerable numlbers of men from ■ inebriate homes had been allowed to enlist and sent over the seas. Sometimes, after they had been discharged for 1 ■drunkenness, they re-enlisted several 1 times. The bulk were sent back without having fired a shot, and became a charge as returned soldiers upon the public funds. He also declared there was a growing evil of aibsent soldiers' wives spending their husbands' pay in drink. , THE CANE WORKERS. • Sydney, July 12. The Farmers' Conference decided tot, in the event of the cane-workers pressing the demands, which the growers j were opposing as exorbitant, to organise ] volunteer labor and cut the cane crop on , the northern rivers—l Press Assoc. ; GALES AFFECT CABLES. , 1 Received July 13, 150 a.m. , Sydney, July 12. War news is scarce, the gales interfering with communications. , RELIEF FOR WIMMKRA SUFFERERS. , Sydney, July 12. ' The Royal Shipwreck Society passed a considerable amount of money to relieve the Wimmera sufferers. ( INTERCEPTING SCULLY. | Sydney, July 12. The Government has taken steps to intercept Scully en route to 'Frisco, and endeavor to induce him to return. Mr. Hall stated that the Crown paid Scully £520, being his share of the reward and maintenance during the court cases and £ the final settlement. Scully left tho < country at his own request, because he j feared for, his personal safety and was j unable to obtain employment. He was destitute of funds, and appealed for a thousand pounds to enable him to start j a new career elsewhere. 'He commenced , an action against the Government for compensation and losses incurred, and n finally agreed to accept £l5O in settle- j ment, the Government to pay his expenses and passage. The police, therefore, were not responsible for his leaving as alleged.—Press Association. 0