COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2693, 24 December 1909, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

RAIN IN NEW SOUTH WALES

United Tansa Association —Copyiiight SYDNEY, Dec. 23:

The heat wave has broken. Good rain in the coastal districts and thunderstorms inland have checked - the bush fires. /' \ > ■

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MINISTRY.

ADELAIDE, Dec. 23

Owing to the resignation of Messrs C-oombe, Mitchell, and Addison, the Ministry has been rearranged as follows: Mr. Peake, Premier and Minister of Lands and Education; Mr Butler, Treasurer and Minister of Northern Territory; Mr. O’Loughlin, Minister of Works and Water Supply; Mr. Bice, Chief Secretary and Minister of Industry; Mr Homburg, Attorney-General; ; Mr Pascoe, Minister of Agriculture.

MELBOURNE TELEPHONES. The report of the Telephone Accounts Commission shows that from the date of the assumption of Federal control to the end of last June telephones in Victoria yielded a net profit of £146,000. During last year wlien the toll system was in operation there was a loss of £7OOO, The loss was largely due to the clumsy method of reckoning calls. But for the adoption of the toll system there would have been a further profit of £20,000. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT OBJECTED *■ ' TO. (( :'V. PERTH, Dec. 53.;.0 A public meeting resolved in favor of the abolition of - capital punishment on the ground that dt failed as ;a deterrent, to crime.'• ■. v ."{/ ' $ ' . '/ HEAVY GALE AT SYDNEY. (Received December 23, 11.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 23. There was a heavy southerly, gale and drenching rain .all day.- Telegraphic communication in all directions was greatly interfered with.