AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 304, 28 December 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

f , Melbourne, December 27. An ocean yacht race from Port Philip Beads to Tasmania has commenced for ft trophy valued at fifty guineas, presented by the American newspaper Rudder. Four boats—the Thistle, Shamrock, Rambler, and Ellada— are coin- ' peting. On Christmas Day the temperature leached lOodeg in the shade. The heat Jras maintained till noon on Boxing Day. .when a cool change set in. About 140 men in the railway service who are entitled to retire on pension at 80 years of age have started a movement to secure for those of their number who desire to settle on the land pel mission from the Government to retire at fifty. The average pension at that age is about £7O a year. They argue that younger men could do their work and effect a saving to the State, while the State would be benefitejLbv their ■"■""-[-rfhr |»n,l -* _..- —-' Sydney, December 27. JjeSx friction exists between importers the Customs authorities as to what i* the minimum of clothing a respectable doll must wear to come in at ten per teaL less duty than her more elabor-ately-attired sister. The State Custom' officers had very loose idea* about dres-. and wished to charge a higher duty on the scantiest attire. The Customs Department has'now backed down from the position taken up that a shirt enn Btituted full dress. Hobart, December 27. The Tasmanian fiovernment propose* to purchase the Tasmanian cables from the Eastern Extension Company, but made it a condition that the company should raise the cables n ithin a specified time for inspection. The company applied /or an extension of time, but the Postmaster-General refused. Adelaide, December 27. Madder, a farm laborer, had been arrested on a charge of attempting to de nil the Adelaide express at Horsham On 14th December. FOOTBALL.

>"E\V ZEAI.AXDKKS PLAY A DRAW X UAAIE. 1 ■ London, December 20. In the football match, New Zealand v. Uunslett, each side ~ scored all their points in the second ' • ball, the Hew ZeaUndcrs leading at halftime by 9 poults to nil. The following table shows the matches jdayed and the ocores up to date; — Brantley—Won by 25 points to G—s 'goals, S tries to 2 tike. Huddersfieid—Won by 1!) points to 8 t goals, S tries to 1 goal, 2 tried. Widnea—Won by Hi puinta to 11—1 goals, 6 tries to 1 goal, 3 tries. Broughton Rangers—Won by 20 paints to 14—4 goals 1 tries to 4 goals 2 tries.

.Wakefield Trinity—Draw, 5 points. Leeds—Won by 8 points to 2—J goal 2 tries to 1 goal. St. Helens—Won by 24 points to 5t goal* and 6 tries to 1 goal and 1 try. Merthyr Tydvil—Won by 27 points to o—3 goals 7 tries to 3 tries. Keigidey—Won by » points to 7—3 tries to 2 soak and 1 try. Wigan—Lget by 8 points to 12—1 goal and 2 tries to 4 tries. Barrow—Lost by 3 points to 6—l trv to 2 tries.

Hull—Won by 18 points to 13—3 goals and 4 tries to 2 goals and 3 tries. Leigh—Lost by U points to 15—3 goals And 1 try to 8 goals and 3 tries. Oldham—Draw, Spoints. Runcorn— Lost by nil to 9—3 trie-. 'Dewsbury and Batley—Won by lx points to B—3 goals and 4 tries to 1 goal and 2 tries.

Swinton—Won by 11 piints to 2—t goals and I try to 1 goal. Rochdale Hornets—Won by 19 points to ov2 goals and 5 tries to nil. Bradford—Lost by 2 points to 7—l 'goal to 2 goals and 1 try. Halifax—Lost by 4 points to o—3 tries to 2 goals. Yorkshire —Won by 23 points (7 goals and 3 tries) toO (2 tries.

Warrington— Lo-,t by 8 points (I ;:oal 2 tries) to 7 point* (2 gonls and 1 try). Hunslett—Drawn, 11 points (each 4 goals ami I try).