AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8439, 10 May 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

COLONIAL IRON INDUSTRY. Received May 9, 9.8 a.m. SYDNEY, May 9. The Lithgow Ironworks (which the other day produced their first parcel of pig iron) have received several orders. There are a number of enquiries from New Zealand. The prospects of the new industry are bright. RIFLE TEAM FROM HOME. Received May 9, 9.8 a.m. SYDNEY, May 9. The National Rifle Association has been advised that the English team will arrive in Australia in time to participate at the Sydney meeting in October. CHURCH CO-OPERATION. Received May 9, 9.8 a.m. SYDNEY, May 9. A report on the question of federation of the churches, which has been presented to the Presbyterian General Assembly, stated that it has been decided to co-operate in temperance, rescue, out-door mission and other work. CO-RESPONDENT HAS TO PAY. Received May 9, 9.8 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 9. | Abberfcon, a railway employee, secured dissolution of marriage and £SOO damages against a co-respon-dent. DAMAGES FOR INJURIES. Received May 9, 9.8 a.m. HOB ART, May 9.""" A wharf-labourer, named Contencin, was . awarded £4OO damages against the Union Steam Ship Company for injuries caused by bags of sugar falling on him while he was working on the steamer Oonah. THE LUMPERS' STRIKE. Received May 9, 9.48 a.m. SYDNEY, May 9. J It is stated that over 400 free labourers are engaged in coaling ships. W. P.. CRICK. Received May 9, 9.44 p.m. SIDNEY, May 9. W. P. Crick to-day laid an information charging two prominent persons with conspiracy to prevent the course of justice, but the Magistrates at both the Central and Wat9r Police Courts refused to isiue the summonses. Subsequently Crick wrote to the Attoney-GenQ?:?} informing him of thG Magistrates' ftjflisal, find adding that he had reason t'3 eonclWde that the Magistrates received instructions from the Attorney-Gerie'r'al or his department, and asking if this was so. A MINISTER RESIGNS. Received May 9, 9.44 p.m. SYDNEY, Mav 9. The Hon. B. B. O'Conor, Stote Minister of Public Instruction, Labour and Industry, has resigned his portfolios. * TREATMENT OF ABORIGINALS. SEVERE CRITICISM. Received May 9, 10.40 p.m. PERTH, May 9. Bishop Gibney, in a leLer to the Press, severely criticises "tfie treatment of aboriginals in Westralia. He says his object is to draw attention to the lethargy of the authorities in preventing the abuses exposed two years ago, and points out that owing to the* land having been taken from them, and the small amount allowed for their maintenance, the aborigines are driven to acts of depredation. Arrest follows, and they then commence barbarous pracGioes. Nothing is being done to remove the r-uviish on the name of the State. The natural supplies of food having disappeared, if they kill a sheep to save themselves from starvation they must go to prison; if they go into the territory of other blacks they are speared. They are arrested indiscriminatey, and often tied one to another to the necks of the police horses. They seldom escape conviction, and many do not know for what offence. They are imprisoned for years, and kept in chains day and night. Most of them do not live long after arrest. Treatment of this description to dumb animals would be counted gross cruelty, yet for natives it was claimed to be what the law demands.

THE CAPITAL SITE. Received May 9, 9.48 a.m. MELBOURNE. May 9. Sir' John Forrest, Acting-Prime Minister ,of the Commonwealth, replying to Mr Carruthers claimed that the delay with regard to the federal site is the outcome of tne interference of the New South Wales Government. No one thought that the New South Wales Government might disapprove the site selected by the Federal Government. It was never suggested or intended that New South Wales should dictate where the site was to be. As to Mr Carruthers' threat, he did not think the people had any desire to look backward. "Their aim and desire is to be the dominant power in the Southern Seas, which aim will never be realised other than by unity. Having taken a step forward in the direction of .nationhood, we will not step back."

REDUCED INCOME TAX. Received May 9, 9.28 a.m. SYDNEY, May 9. Speaking at a dinner given by the builders, the Minister for Works, Mr C. A. Lee, foreshadowed a reduction in the income tax, and an amendment of the Arbitration Act.

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