AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8331, 14 January 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

HOBART AS A NAVAL STATION. HOBART,-January 12. Representations were made to have Hobart made a naval station instead of Sydney. The Admiralty replied that there was not sufficient strategical reasons to justify the large expenditure necessary to convert Hobart into a naval station. RESIGNATION OF SENATOR PLAYFORD. MELBOURNE, January 12. Senator tPlayford, who was defeated at the recent elections, has resigned from the Federal Ministry. THE TOWER HILL SENSATION. PERTH, January 12. Marley, who was shot by Browne in connection with the attempted robbery at the Tower Hill smelting works, is dead. Browne was charged with shooting him, but was discharged, the Magistrate holding that there was no case for a jury. NEWCASTLE COAL EXPORT. SYDNEY, January 12. The coal exported from Newcastle last year topped four million tons. £ EXPERIMENTS IN TRAWLING. MELBOURNE, January 12. A New Zealand resident has offered the Commonwealth Government for sale or hire two trawlers tor the purpose of conducting experiments in Australian waters. / THE NEW HEBRIDES. MELBOURNE January 12, The publication of the New Hebrides despatches shows that Mr Deakin, the Federal Premier, even while Ithe convention was being drafted, urged that an attempt should be made to secure the consent of France to annexation of the group by Britain. SUGGESTED MODIFICATIONS OF THE-CONVENTION. MELBOURNE, January 12. When the draft of the convention was received, Mr Deakin stated, with all respect to the framers of the convention, that failed to see how the wishes of Australasia were furthered by the establishment of separate jurisdiction by the representatives of each Powqjv He strongly urged that the scheme should be remodelled to provide |pr the creation of one code of lawsj administered by a joint court; also that more strin l gent restrictions should be 'placed on the acquirement of land, and that recruiting of natives for outside purposes should be abolished. YACHTING RACE. Received January 13, 4.25 p.m. MELBOURNE, January 13. The La Carbine "Cup resulted:— Rawhiti 1, Heather 2, S.J.S. 3. There was a strong southerly breeze and a lumpy sea. Eleven yachts started. Rawhiti and Heather were first across, but the Sayonara held the lead for the first half-mile, when the Rawhiti took it. The Sayonara was apparently too light and carried too much canvas, but was as expertly handled as the Rawhiti and Heather. The former sailed like a witch, rising corkily over the seas, while the Sayonara jumped and shipped a deal of water at every tack. The New Zealander its lead, and rounded the buoy for home eighteen minutes fifty-one seconds in advance of the Victorian. Interest in the race was then centred in the contest between the Heather and the Sayonara. The wind fell light on the home run. The Rawhiti passed the post fifteen ana a half minutes ahead of the Sayonara, who conceded the Rawhiti twenty-four seconds. The Heather was eight minutes twenty-six seconds behind the Sayonara, but the time allowance Jplaced her second with S.J.S.'third, and Sayonara fourth.

BOWLS. Received January 13,, 4.27 p.m. SYDNEY, January 13. Two rinks of the team that is to visit New Zealand were beaten by Waverley by 43 to 35. THE RANQITIRA. •Received January 13, 4.27 p.m. SYDNEY, January 13. The steamer Rangitira . passed Cape Moreton yesterday, bound for Sydney, and reported all well. A BYE-ELECTION. Received January 13, 4.27 p.m. ' SYDNEY, January 13. The election for Blayney vacancy, created by Mr.W P. Crick's resignation, resulted in a close contest. Withington,the Government nominee, polled 1,733 votes, and Beeby, Labour,. 1,710. SHIPPING. Received January 13, 4.57 p.m. SYDNEY, January 13. Arrived—Auchencraig, from Auckland. Sailed at 3 o'clock—*Monowai.