AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9041, 6 March 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph copyright.

LOCAL OPTION,

Received March 5, 11.2 p.m. SYDNEY, March 5,

Tbe Local Option Court has made a beginning in enforcing the reduction vote, and has ordered the closing of four hotels in the Marrickville and Petersham electorates.

NEWCASTLE COLLIERY TROUBLES.

TWO MINES RESUME WORK

Received March 5, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, March 5,

The Heddon and Greta mines, which were idle owing to tbe management refusing to reinstate four men, have resumed work.

THE SPECIAL COAL COURT. Received March 5, 11.12 p.m. SYDNEY, March 5. The Newcastle Special Mining Court resumed its sittings to-day. The President made his promised statement reviewing the position. He reiterated that the miners had taken up an absolutely unjustifiable position over the matter of taking evidence in camera. If the Miners' Federation withdraw causing a nreakup of the Court, he would say that the miners had broken their agreement without any justification whatever, merely because they had failed to dictate to the Court. The only thing for them to do was to withdraw from their attitude and leave the procedure of the Court in the hands of the Court.

Counsel for the miners declared that he could not at that stage say what the miners "'ould do. He must take instructions from the Federation, and asked the Court to adjourn so that he could further consider the position. The Court agreed, and adjourned till Monday.

MR CARRUTHERS ENTERTAINED.

WHAT A GOVERNOR HAS TO DO. FEDERATION NOT WORKING WELL.

Received March 5, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, March 5,

Mr J. H. Carruthers, ex-Premier, was entertained by the citizens at a banquet in the Town Hall prior to his departure for England to act as State Commissioner at the Franco-British Exhibition.

Mr Carruthers was presented with a valuable diamond pendant for his wife in recognition of her services to the State.

The Governor (Admiral Sir Harry Rawson) presided. In the course of his speech he remarked that he could not say whether his career here as Goyernor has been best for him. An Admiral could work his wicked will on anybody he pleased, but a Governor had to do nothing, and be very careful how he did it. Mr Carruthers, in his speech, complained that Federation was not working well, because of the attempts of the Federal Government to invade the sphere of the States. RIFLE SHOOTING. AN INVITATION. Received March 5, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, March 5. The National Rifle Association invites teams from the Empire to compete at the Jubilee Meeting next year. CARRIAGE OF MAILS. Received March 5, 9.50 a.m. PERTH, March 5. Advices received indicate the likelihood of the P. and 0. Company terminating its contract with the Imperial Government for the carriage of Australian mails in the event of the Navigation Bill being placed on the statute book. AN ARCHDEACON'S RESIGNATION.

Received March 5, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, March 5.

Archdeacon Abbott's letter of resignation has stirred up lot of loca'. feeling. Mr Abbott, in a letter to the Parochial Council, says he has always done fully what he promised to do, and that muth has been made out of a small matter.

(A cablegram from Sydney last week stated that the archdeacon, who was in charge of the Tamworth parish, in sending in his resignation to the Bishop of the diocese, pointed out that in five years he had received £!,952 from his parish, and had expended on its work £1,750. He had been unable, however, to save any money out of which to replace necessary things which had become, after five years' wear and tear, almost worn out).