AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7983, 10 March 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

RAILWAY ENQUIRY IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Received March 9, 8.48 a.m. SYDNEY, March 9. Asked if the relations between the Commissioners were now prejudicial to the public interests, Mr Fehon said they caused divided loyalty among the service officers. Many important matters were hung up for weeks and cost the country a thousand pounds by cables. Tbe result wag divided opinions over the installation of turbines. Mr Oliver, recalled, declared that it was neither true nor fair to say that all the discourtesy and inharmony between the Commissioners was due to him. Mr Eddy suffered acutely from the attacks made upon him in Parliament and elsewhere, and leaned tremendously on witness in all his troubles He had no hesitation in saying that Mr Eddy would not have been six months in the oountry if witness had not been bis colleague. On one occasion he told witness he could stand the attacks no longer, and showed his resignation written out. Witness persuaded him to staud his ground. The estrangement with Mr Eddy arose through Mr Eddy's intention to ask for an increased salarly. It was untrue to say that the estrangement lasted six mouths, and that a reconciliation wag made only a few wjeks before Mr Eddy's death. MR FISHER DENIES THE STATEMENTS. Received March 10, 1 6 a.m. SYDNEY, March 9. Mr Oliver absolutely denied a member of Messrs Fehon's and Kirkcaldie's statements and inferences, an 3 complained that there had been an absolute conspiracy against him for a number of years. The greater part of bis colleagues' story was pure fabrication. H.M.S. ENCOUNTER. Received Maroh 9, 9.33 a.m. SYDNEY, March 8. The seoond class cruiser Encounter (5,800 tons, 11 guns, Duilt in 1903) has arrived from Plymouth. She replaces the Wlallaroo (4,000 tons) and the Katoomba (4,000 tons) in Australasian waters. The oiiioers of the Encounter state that the rumours regarding the alleged faulty nonstruotion of the vessel are without foundation. It was proved during the voyage that the Encounter is a splendid sea boat. At tbe outset the engines were too powerful for the size of the hull, but modifications were made. THE WARRIMOJ-SQUIRRELL COLLISION. Received Maroh 9, 11.10 p.m. SYDNEY, Maroh 9. , The Marine Board has found that' the Warrimoo - Squirrell collision on November 25th, was oaused by the wrongful act of Mo Beth, master of the Warrimoo, going at too great a speed and taking the wrong side of the fairway; but that there was no i-eckless navigation, as he took immediate steps to avoid a collision. Under the circumstances the Board did not call upon him to show oause why his! certifioate should not be suspended, but ordered him to pay oosts to the owner of tbe Squirrel!, and reasonable costs to witnesses. THE OASE OF MALOUF. Received Maroh 9, 10.40 p.m. SYDNEY, Maroh 9. On Tuesday the Magistrate delivered his reserved decision in the Malouf case.. He said that Malouf's certificate of exemption should have been signed by the Minister and Collector of Customs. During the absence of the Collector of Customs tbe certifioate was signed by the Acting-Collector, who had not beeu appointed to sign certificates." Therefore, the certificate was invalid. The cas<* was dismissed. Malouf was then proceeded against on a seoond charge of not having left the State at the expiry of the second exemption certificate whioh he obtained. Evidence was given showing that Malouf had passed tbe test in English, but was unable to write out in French or German, For the defenoe, it was claimed that the test was made in such a way as to be farcical, and there was no case to answer. The hearing was adjourned till Friday next.

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