COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3415, 5 January 1912, Page 2

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

ALLEGED OVERRULING PRIESTS. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT] SYDNEY, Jan. 4. Dr Borcharcl, French Resident _at Wallis Island, has returned from a visit to France, where he went to consult the Colonial Minister in reference to the trouble that has for a long time existed between the Resident and the Marist Brothers at the. island. Dr Borchard’s mission obtained authority to break the alleged overruling powers of the priests. He returns armed with special instructions from the Minister to deal with the situation. He declines to disclose the instructions. WORKMEN’S COTTAGES. Mr Dacev has changed his project of creating a" suburb or wooden Stateowned cottages at Kensington, to brick. BEAUTIFYING SYDNEY. The Lord Mayor has outlined a big scheme of further improving and beautifying the city and overcoming traffic congestion. The railway commissioners are also carrying out extensive plans for overcoming the congestion of suburban passenger traffic. AN ATHLETE’S BREAKDOWN. An athlete named Lane was seized with illness shortly after his departure from New Zealand. On arrival he was removed to the hospital, suffering from an internal complaint. IRON BONUS. | The Lithgow strikers ask the Federal Government to suspend the Iron bonus | until pigiron produced is registered j “Union labor only.” I POPULATION RETURNS. MELBOURNE, Jan. 4. Returns show that the Commonwealth’s population includes 52,343 nonFuropeans, whereof 25,772 are Chinese, 1 a decrease of 7393 Chinese since 1901. i OBITUARY, j Mr Lewis Hiddle, Commissioner of ! the Savings Banks, is dead, i CA RLE CONCESSIONS RIDICULOUS FREMANTLE, Jan. 4. Mr Henniker Heaton declared that the deferred cable concessions were made out of alarm as the result of the agitation for reductions. The concessions were amusing and illusory, and would merely benefit the, millionaire. They would prove unsatisfactory to Australia and New Zealand., He would not be satisfied till they were able to cable twelve words for a shilling between England and Australia, or vice versa. It, was within tho range of practicability. SMALLPOX. PORT DARWIN, Jan. 4. Three more eases of smallpox have occurred on the steamer Taiyuan. KISSING THE BIBLE. ADELAIDE, Jan. 4. Kissing the Bible- in taking oath in the Police Court has been abolished. A witness holds the Bible and makes an affirmation. POLITICAL CRISIS. The Government- has ap’pealed to tho Colonial Office in connection with the political crisis, but the Imperial authorities declined to interfere" in the internal affairs of a self-governing colony until every . constitutional remedy has be. t exhausted. The Council last night carried a resolution for forwarding to the Imperial authorities, protesting against the Premier’s message to the Colonial. Office as being incomplete and misleading. Both Houses passed supply ‘to carry the Government over the elections. ' It is understood there will be a dissolution in the middle of January, and an election early in February. V • ■