COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3112, 7 January 1911, Page 7

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

INCREASE OF CANCER. I United press association-copyrights MELBOURNE, Jan. 6. A noticeable feature of the vital statistics for nine months is the increased number of deaths from cancer. A NEW OATH. HOBART, Jan. 5. A new system of taking the oath, using the words “I swear,’’ instead of kissing the Bible, has been inaugurated. WEST AUSTRALIAN POPULATION. PERTH, Jan. G. The population of the State at the end of last year was 288,743. A PLAGUE OF GRASSHOPPERS. SYDNEY, Jan. G. There has been much destruction of crops by a plague of grasshoppers in Gunclagai district. THE VOYAGE OF A BOTTLE. A bottle thrown overboard from the Aorangi in August, 1909,. 300 miles east of Brisbane, drifted ashore at Str.adbroke Island on November 15 last. fStradhrooke Island is on the Queensland coast at the entrance to Moreton Bay.] THE VANCOUVER SERVICE. Sir James Mills, who is visiting Sydney, states' that the matter, of the Vancouver service remains in abeyance, at present. THE CORONATION CELEBRA TIONS. The State Premiers and l the wives have received invitations to attend tne Coronation celebrations. A • COMMONWEALTH NAVAL COLLEGE. Adrimal Henderson favors the. establishment of a Commonwealth Naval College at Middle Head, Sydney. A RABBIT RING. The Minister for Agriculture states that he has discovered that a ring has been formed to rule the rabbit market, and has cornered most* of the freezing places in Sydney, being thereby able to dominate the market and pay suppliers any price they like.