AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8529, 7 September 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

Received September 6, 9.45 a.m. SYDNEY, September 6. The Hon. J. IL Carruthers, Premier of New South Wales, estimates that the new Federal tariff has reduced the purchasing value of a sovereign to 17s Gd. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. Received September 6, 9.45 a.m. SYDNEY, September 6. Professor David will accompany the Antarctic expedition at Lieut. Shackleton's special request. He considers that the prospects of reaching the Pole are good.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BUDGET,

Received September 6, 9.45 a.m ADELAIDE, Spetember 6.

The Budget showed that the past year ended with a surplus of £297,673. Amongst the prime causes of the surplus was an increase of nearly 6,000 in the population. Marriages were the largest ever recorded. The developmant of mining and agricultural intersts was an important contribution to the prosperity. CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLITICS. Received September 6, 9.45 p.m. HOBART, September 6. The Assembly adopted a resolution allowing Civil Servants to participate in politics, provided they do not criticise their Departments.

DEFENCE ACT AMENDMENT HILL.

Received September 6, 10 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 6

The Defence Act Amendment Bill has reached its second stage in the Senate. It provides that all boys over 12 and under 19 shall be compelled to join military or naval cadet cores.

STRIKERS REFUSE TO PAY FINES.

Received September 6, 8.22 a.m. SYDNEY, September 6. Another batch of the Pelawmain Mine strikers refused to pay the fines and went to gaol. (The fines on fifteen clippers-on and seventy-six wheelers were £2 and costs each, and £3 and costs each, respectively).

OLD AGE PENSIONS. Received September 6, 8.22 a.m. SYDNEY, September 6. Mr Carruthers, the Premier, proposes to extend old age pensions to invalids and cripples. AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON. Received September 6, 8.22 a.m. SYDNEY, September 6. The flagship (H.M.S. Powerful) has sailed for Colombo with timeexpired crews. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LAMBS. Received September 6, 8.22 a.m. ADELAIDE, September 6. The estimated lambing is from 60 to 80 per cent. ACCIDENT TO A STEAMER. Received September 7, 12.46 a.m. SYDNEY, September 6. The Underwriters' Association has received a cable announcing that the German-Australian steamer Plauen, bound from Sydney to Antwerp, was towed into Vigo in a sinking condition, having been in collision.

SENSATIONAL DIVORCE SUIT. Received September 7, 12.43 a.m. SYDNEY, September 6. The sensational divorce suit, Darley v. Darley (wife's petition) has been concluded. LThe petitioner brought a terrible accusation against her husband, who is captain of a coastal steamer, involving her daughter. Several of the officers of the steamer and members of the crew corroborated Mrs Darley's statement, but the medical evidence was flatly against it. It was also shown that Mrs Darley suffered from the opium habit. The Judge dismissed the petition, and approved of the prosecution of all the witnesses for the petitioner for perjury.