AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8214, 18 August 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE TRAMWAY BOARD ENQUIRY.

Reoeived August 17, 9.36 a.m. SYDN3Y, August 17. At the Tramway Board euquiry the burden of the witnesses' complaints was that espionage was carried on by Beoret officers, who reported the most trivial mistakes, for which men were reprimanded and punished. There were also complaints of cavalier treatment by some of the higher offloers, and it was declared that the regulations were so complicated that it was impossible not to make technical mistakes.

PENNY POSTAGE,

Received August 17, 9.36 a.m. MELBOURNE, August 17. It is estimated that the number of letters that will he affected by penny postage is seventy-two million.

NEW ZEALAND STALLION SOLD.

Received August 17, 11.11 p.m. SYDNEY, August 17. At thw horse sale?, to-day,[the stallion Dandy Dick, the property of Mr J. T. Cox, of New Zealand, was sold for 73 guineas.

BATHUKST-SYDNEY ROAD RAGE

Received August 17, 11.30 p.m. SYDNEY, August 17. There are 103 acoeptors for the Bathurst-Sydney Road Race, tomorrow—including all the leading cyclists.

BUDGET DEBATE ADJOURNED

Received August 18, 1.10 a.m. MELBOURNE, August 17. The debate on the Budget has been adjourned in [order to enable the Parliamentary party to pay a visit of inspection co the proposed Federal capital sites at Lake George and Dalgety.

MR MURRAY'S SUCCESSOR.

Received August 17, 11.59 p.m. MELBOURNE, August 17. Mr Maokay has succeeded Mr Murray as Minister of Lands. (Mr Murray resigned a few days ago).

COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT BILL.

Received August 18, 12.40 a.m. MELBOURNE, August 17. In the House of Representatives a Copyright Amendment Bill has been introduced.

THE PORT CHALMERS

Received August 17, 11.V) p.m.. SYDNEY, August 17. Latest advices state that tbe steamer Port Chalmers, which iB ashore at Gape York, Torres Strait, is uninjured. It is hoped to get her of! with to-night's tide.

THE ADELAIDE TRAGEDY.

Received August 17, 10. 16 a.m. ADELAIDE, August 17. At the inquest ou Mrs Natella, evidence was given that on Sunday her husband threatened to have a big row with his wife, who was out for a driV9, because she did not beep her promise to return to tea. When she came home they upbraided each other. Natella sent the servant out, who returned at 10 o'clock. The house was then looked up, and Mrs Natella was not again seen. The medical evidence pointed to strangling. A verdict of wilful murder against Natella was returned by the jury.

OKIMPINW AT NEWCASTLE.

Received August 17, 9.43 a.m. SYDNEY, August 17. Thfl State Assembly, on a motion for adjournment, discussed the question of crimping at Newcastle. Mr O'Sullivan, ex-Minister of Works, made some startling statements. He declared that 75 per cent, of the boarding-houses iu Newcastle were crimpiug dens, and that the masters of ocean going steamers were in league with agents ashore. Men were "shanghaied" and robbed wholesale. Other members supported Mr O'Sullivon's statements. The Premier (Mr Carruthers) admitted that gross abuses had prevailed, and the Imperial Government had protested against the abuses prevailig iu Sydney and Newcastle. The Government, the Premier added, was considering a scheme to overcome the abases, but it would not.be judicious to give details of it at present.