COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 97, 19 December 1912, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

WHALING

Melbourne, December 18

The steam whaler Hobart has arrived from New Zealand, en route to Norway. Although the depot ship at New Zealand has 1500 barrels of oil aboard, the undertaking was not payable. The expenses were very heavy. Host of the other Norwegian whalers are also returning, because there are not enough whales to keep them going. Some of them are trying the Antarctic waters.

JAPANESE FRUIT

Sydney, December 18

The steamer Nikko Maru brought, the first shipment of Japanese apples, comprising 150 cases. They are expected to prove a formidable competitor to the Californian varieties. The steamer also brought fifty cases of good-sized oranges for Wellington. HEAT WAVE IN AUSTRALIA. A heat wave is general in Australia. To-day the shad 9 temperature was 92 deg. in Sydney, and 115 at Menindie. The highest record in New South Wales was 122 deg. at Ecula, the highest recorded in Australia. A LIBEL ACTION. The celebrated libel case of Billie Barlow, the actress, against the ‘Bulletin’ newspaper, has been revived. The case was heard on March 27, 1901, and judgment was given for defendant, with £lO3 costs against Miss Barlow. These'remained unpaid. The ‘Bulletin’ to-day received permission to issue an execution for that amount against Miss Barlow, who is at present in Sydney under engagement to J. C. Williamson. THE SYDNEY FIRE. The insurance oh. the Drug Company’s fire amounted to £70,000.