AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7960, 10 February 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

POLICE COMMISSION. Received February 9, 10 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 9. The Police Commission, which has been dragging along wearily for some time, is expeoted to conclude to-day. The enquiry has been responsible for the washing of a lot of dirty linen between officers and men. One witness testified that he made an arrest for sly grog-selling, but the prisoner was released at the station. While witness denied that be had been guilty of misconduct, he was afterwards informed by ,the Inspector that it would be better for him not to see too much, and he would then get on. Witness added that he found it good advice. A NEW SOUTH WALES LOAN. Received February 9, 8.55 a.m. LONDON, February 8. A New South Wales loan of £2.000,000 at 3>_ per cent., and a rrinimum of 99}_ was issued tonight. The underwriting is complete.

THE STEAMER MAHENO PUTS UP ANOTHER RECORD.

HOBART, February 8

The Maheno put up a reoord from the Bluff, covering the distance in 56>£ huurs. The best day's steaming was 402 knots.

CYCLONIC DISTURBANCE.

BRISBANE, February 8

A cyclonic disturbance in the far north did enormous damage to the banana crops. The loss, is estimated at 70 oer cent.

SYDNEY FORTIFICATIONS.

THE ALLEGED "SEIZURE" OF

PLANS.

A SARCASTIC LETTER.

deceived Februafy 10, 1.5 a.m. SYDNEY, February 9. The Japanese Consul, in a letter to the press, states that the luggage of Kanematsu and Mishikawa was not landed at all. They wired to the captain of the boat to lood their cabin, and they, subsequently, received their luggage intact at Hongkong. The Oonaul can only surmise that the citizen who reaeived the letter or his correspondent, is labouring under a delusion, as strong as that which led the Baltic Fleet to see Japanese warships on the DoggeK Bank. He concludes by Haying that matters of the kind are calculated to disturb the friendliness existing between nations, and which might, under some circumstances be productive of serious consequences. It would have been well if complete inquiry had been made as to the veracity of the allegations before they received publicity. The editor of the Daily Telegraph, in reply, says that the statement was received from a quarter that no journal in Australia would disregard in such a matter.

CONVERSION LOAN,

Received February 10, 12.15 a.m. MELBOURNE. February 9. Two million and eighty-seven thousand pounds have been sub* soribed of the £4,600,000 conversion loan.

THE SCANLON TRAGEDY.

A VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. MELBOURNE, February 9. Soanlon has been found guilty of manslaughter in [connection 'with shooting his sister, and has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment.

(On December 9th a cablegram from Melbourne stated that a young man, named Scanlon, as Bendigo, quarrelled with his sister and fired two or three shots at her with a revolver. She succumbed to her injuries. The girl stated that the trouble was her fault. Soanlon stated that he intended to destroy himself, but his sister interfered, ( and he shot her. The family came into prominence through ooming into a large sum of money from the Tyson Estates. Scanlon had been morose and sullen for some time past. THE MURDER OF MRS GREGORY. QUINLAN MAKES A SECOND CONFESSION. Received February 10, 1.5 a.m. SYDNEY, February 9. Quiulan has beeu committed for trial. The evidence showed that tho prisoner, in a second confession,stated that Mrs Gregory, on discovering him, attacked him with a bottle, wbereunon he stabbed her, and hid himself in the hotel, till seven o'clock in the morning, when he left unobserved.

(A cable on the Ist instant stated that Mrs Gregory, the wife of a Uoolgardie publican, was staying at the Royal Hotel, when a piercing scream brought an employee to her room. She was found kneeling beside the bed, stabbed in the breast and back, there being no less than niho wounds. A sheath knife was found by her side. Articles of clothing belonging to the hotel lift boy, Thomas Quiulan, aged 15 years, were discovered in the room. Quinlan was arrested in bed at his home. He confessed to the deed. Further details were to the effect that Quinlan

CABLE NEWS.

I3y Telegraph—Pressl Association—Copyright

and a younger brother, whom he helped to support, lived in a lodg-ing-house, their mother having brought them from Queenslaud and left them. Quiulau received his discharge from the hotol, owing to his being too young for the dutiea. Mrß Gregory bid shown him much kindness, and h:id given him several presents. He went to the room with the intention of securing some jewellery, and hid under the bed. The lad apparently bad no intention of injuring Mrs Gregory, but when he was discovered, in the madness of fear, he stabbed hor. The attack was made with great ferocity, Mrs Gregory receiving j terrible wounds on the head, and many parts of the body. Quinlan almost severed two of his own fingers. Some of Mrs Gregory's jewellery was miaaed some days prior to the murder, and was discovered in Quinlan's room.)