AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8990, 27 November 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND. DECADENCE OF CHURCH ATTENDANCE. CLERICAL AUTOCRACY BLAMED. Received November 26, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, November 26. The annual report of the Church of England Association deplores the 'decadence of church attendance, the love of pleasure, the permeation of schools and colleges with the socalled new theology, and urges that the churches have become transformed into ecclesiastical music halls and organ recitals. Solo singing and tricky advertisements were the order of the day, while the simple, plain evangelical service was put in the bdckgx'ound, Ritualism, too, had become a very real and great clanger in England, and the number of ritualistic institutions in the shape of convents and sisterhoods was so great as would incline one to think that England was a Roman Catholic country. South Africa was also strongly permeated with this ritualistic craze, and New Zealand was said to be following on the same lines, while it had a strong hold in the Commonwealth. Clerical autocracy was dragging the Church of England down. MR KEIR HARDIE. ARRIVES AT FRE VIANTLE. Received November 26, 10.25 a.m. FREMANTLE, November 26. Mr Keir Hardie, M.P., has arrived here. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HARVEST. ESTIMATED AVERAGE 9* BUSHELS. Received November 26, 10.26 a.m. ADELAIDE, November 26. The South Australian Register estin.at3s the harvest at 17,112,000 bushels, an average of 9£ bushels. A TERRIFIC HAILSTORM. HAIL THE SIZE OF TEACUPS. Received November 26, 10.26 a.m. BRISBANE, November 26. There was a terrific hailstorm at Gatton. Hail the size of teacups penetrated iron roofs as if they were tissue paper. Many buildings were unroofed, ar.c] some were blown down. THE FEDERAL TARIFF. DUTY ON IRON. Revived November 26, 10.26 a.m. MELBOURNE. November 26. Sir W. Lyne, Fedex-al Treasurer, sought to have the duty on corrugated galvanised iron fixed at £3 10s per ton general duty, but the House reduced it to SOs with preference of 20s. The duty on plain galvanised iron wa& fixed at 20s general duty, with 10s preference. Cream separators were placed on the free list. BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES. TEN P)i;R CENT. DIVIDEND. Received November 26, 10.50 p.m. SYDNEY, November 26. At the meeting of the Bank of New South Wales the net profits for the half-year amounted to £142,966, to which has to be added £29,314 from the previous half-year. A dividend of ten per centum per annum was declared, £30,000 was added to the reserve fund, and £31,645 carried forward. The President said that there were indications throughout their business that spare money was being morn freely use:! for investment than had been the case for some years. A MURDERER EXECUTED. Received November 26, 10.50 p.m. SYDNEY, November 26. The man Tofts, who was found guilty of murdering Brand Fletcher, on July 29th last, was executed at Tamworth to day. Death was instantaneous. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. ALL-ROUND IMPROVEMENT IN PRICE. Received November 27, 12.56 a.m. SYDNEY, November 26. Wool is brisker and prices show an all-round improvement. THE NEW ZEALAND CABLE. Received November 27, 12.56 a.m. SYDNEY, November 26. The Patrol left to-day to again overhaul the New Zealand cable. A CYCLONIC STORM. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE. Received November 27} 12.56 a.m. SYDNEY, November 26. There was a cyclonic storm in the city this afternoon accompanied by torrential rain and hail. Considerable damage was done. THE LATE NEWCASTLE STRIKE. ALL COLLIERIES IN FULL WORK. Received November 27, 12.5S a.m. SYDNEY, November 26. All the collieries are in full work, and coal is coming forward for shipment.