AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8448, 24 May 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

REPATRIATED. Received May 23, 7.47 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 23. Three steamers are coming from South Africa with over 1,200 repatriated Australians. ;•' (Referring to the Australians stranded in South Africa, Premier Carruthers, of New South Wales, recently remarked that the bulk of New South Welshmen had already been brought back. "A lot of fuss is being made about the Commonwealth bringing over some 600 or 700 men," the Premier added, "but we have already got them—the bulk of ours are here already. They are men who were here before, and it is probable they will drift back into the occupations they were in before they left. The men who like the country life will no doubt go to the country, and the others will remain in the towns."

EMPIRE DAY. Received May 23, 7.47 a.m. SYDNEY, May 23. Extensive preparations for the celebration of, Empire Day (to-mor-row) are being made in the schools. MR DEAKIN AND LABOUR. STRONG FEELING CONTINUES. Received May 23, 10.11 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 23. A strong feeling continues to exist in Labour circles with regard to the recent utterances in England, concerning the prospects of Labour in Australia, of Mr Deakin, Commonwealth Premier. Mr Prendergast, leader of the State Labour Party, declared that Mr Deakin has been particularly ungrateful. He has- acted like the dog that turns and bites the hand that fed it. "He was put in power, and was kept in power," says Mr Prendergast, "by the Labour party, and there is no hope of his remaining in power without its support. He will have a sudden awakening one of these days, and will 'disappear before a party pledged to a solid platform which it will carry out in its entirety." THE TIMBER TRADE STRIKE. ' Received May 23, 10.11 a.m. PERTH, May 23. An injunction has been granted against three members of the Legislative Assembly and against Senator Pearce, as members of the Timber Workers' Defence Association, restraining them from abetting the strike in the timber trade or operating or) the moneys of the Timber Workers' Defence Committee lying in the bank, except by leave of the court.

Mr Pearce states that the'money has been received from all sections of the community, and is used in relieving women and children suffering as a result of the strike. * SYDNEY COAL LUMPERS. UNEQUAL CONDITIONS. Received May 23, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, May 23. An official of the Goal Lumpers' Union has published a letter to the press reviewing the situation and setting out what is described as the unbearable unequal conditions under which the employers are attempting I to force the lumpers to work. EARLY CLOSING. SMALL SHOPOWNER SUFFERS. Received May 23, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, May 23. Mr Samuel Hordern, giving evidence before the Arbitration Court, stated that the Early Closing Act had benefited his firm in a way he did not desire —at the expense of the smaller shops. ) OCEANIC COMPANY WITHDRAWING. Received May 24, 12.59 a.m. SYDNEY, May 23. Definite news was received to-day of the intention of the Oceanic Company to withdraw from the SydneySan Francisco mail service.

Mr Jones, the Sydney manager of the Company, interviewed, stated that he had received a cable from the directors to that effect, and instructing him to dispose of all the property here and wind up the affairs of the Company in Sydney without delay. He intends to close the office by June 30th. Received May 24, 1.5 a.m. SYDNEY, May 23.

Mr Jones declared that the primary cause of the withdrawal was the failure of the Ship's Subsidy Bill to pass the American Congress. It had been helped along iA a great measure by the unfortunate trouble which the steamers got into, although it must not be forgotten that for years they ran with clock-like regularity. Mr Jones had no information as to what would be dons with the steamers. The property in Sydney chiefly consists of a coal hulk, a large quantity of coal, and office fittings. A BIG BUSINESS. Received May 23, 10.45 p.m. SYDNEY, May 23. Mr Samuel Horden informed the Arbitration Court that his firm's turnover was something under two millions annually. They paid ten to twelve thousand pounds in wages fortnightly, and distributed six to eight thousands in bonuses to Salesmen alone and twenty-five thousand amongst the heads of departments annually.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright

SYDNEY TRAM FATALITY. Received May 23, 10.45 p.m. SYDNEY, May 23. At the inquest on Fisher, the victim of the tram accident on May 14th, the Coroner found that the driver Lloyd, and the conductor, Wannick, were drunk at the time of the accident, and incapable of properly discharging their duties. The collision was the result of Lloyd's grossly careless driving. Lloyd was committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter. The verdict does not affect Wannick.