AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8306, 8 December 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

BOWLING TEAM FOR NEW ZEALAND. Received December 7, 9.50 a.m. SYDNEY, December 7. A bowling team, 40 strong, including the wives and families of some of the players, will leave on January 16tb to tour :New Zealand.

PRIOhJ OF FLOUR. Received December 7, 9 a.m. MELBOURNE, Deo. 7. The Millowners' Association has fixed *he price of flour at £7 5s per ton, bran at and pollard 9j4d. A bond has keen entered into enforcing the Association's decision.

A MARKER KILLED. Reoeived December 7, 9.54 a.m. MELBOURNE, Deo. 7. A boy, named Fowlos, was shot dead while aoting as marker for a cadet squad at the Oakleigh rifle range.

SULTRY WEATHER. BUSH FIRES IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Received December 7, 9.36 a.m. SYDNEY, December 7. Sultry weather is being experienced here. At Bourke the thermometer registered 103. Bush Ores are doing great damage at Condobolin, in the West. THE BUILDING STRIKE. 1 Reoeived December 7, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Deo. 7. It is estimated that 3,500 men are out of work as the result of the -building strike. There is. a prospeot of a conference being arranged with a view to a settlement of the trouble.

AN APPEAL FOR FUNDS.

Received December 7, 10.20 a.m.

SYDNfiY, December 7

The Labonr Couuoll, in response to ?a notification by the Melbourne Trades Council, thit the strike Id the building trade baa developed into a general lock-uut, and appealing for funds, has decided to Issue a circular asking for support.

SPORTS IN PERTH. Reoeived December 7, 9.50 a.m. PERTH, December 7. The pedestrian championphip contests attracted an attendance of 15,000. Postle defeated Day, the English champion (three yards), in the 75 yards race in 7 l-sseo. In the 300 yards race he finished three yards in front of Day in 30 4-sseo. Day attributes his defeats to illluck. He says he was not given time to get a proper start. He challenges Postle to re-run the races.

CHARGES AGAINST CRICK AND WILLIS. Receiver! December 7, 9.23 a.m. SYDNEY, December 7. The Attorney-General has announced that, acting oa the advioe of the Crown Coudsol that a further trial is likely to prove abortive, the Government would not take further criminal proceedings against Crick and Willis, who were charged with conspiracy in oonueotion with oertain land transactions in New South Wales.

WEST AUSTRALIAN MINES. Received December 7, 9.17 a.m. PERTH, December 6. Dividends paid by the West Australian mines this year total nearly two million pounds. } " RABBIT PEST. Received December 7, 9.15 a.m. PERTH. December 7. The rapid spread of vatbits in districts not previously infested is causing consternation. VICTJRIAN GAMING BILL. COMPULSORY VOTING. Received December 7, 9.54 a.m. MELBOURNE, Deoember 7. In the Assembly an ameudment to the Gaming Bill was oarried against the Government, permitting newspapers to publish odds on tbe day vrior to a race. The second reading of the Compulsory Voting Bill was moved. It trovidea for a penalty of ten shillings for failure tn vote, unless the voter is ill, or from some other sufficient cause.

SPORTING LEAGUE FORMED.

Received December 7, 10.40 a.m. SYDNEY, December 7. At a meeting called to oonsider the formation of a Snorting League, resolutions were adopted protesting against the extreme legislation contained in the Gaming Bill, asking fir a modification in the interests of true spor*, and appealing for support in returning to Parliament only such members as will administer fair legislation for true sport,

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright,

IMB BALLINA TRAGEDY.

Received Deo9mber 7, 11.15 p.m. SYDNKY, December 7. In the Assembly, Mr Thrower moved an adjournment, and urged the reprieve of Brown, the mur deter of the O'Keetes as an act of meroy. Mr Griffiths supported the motion, end suggested that Brown was suffering from insanity. Other speakers considered there were no grounds for mercy. Mr J. H. Carrutbers (Premier) explained thau the Executive had given most careful consideration to the matter, and there were no extenuating circumstances. Tbe case was suob a one that if tbe law was not carried ! 'out they might as well Wipe out capital punishment from the Matures altogether. gjJJ (The crime for which Brown was sentenced to death was a brutal one, the victims being Danie! O'Keefe, a pioneer cane farmer at German Creek, Ballina, his wife, and a farm labourer named Gilliok. Wben he was arrested, Brown staled that be went over to the O'Keefes place, not with the intention 01 murdering them, but to get money and arms. He took a" bayonet , also a bag filled with sand and stones. He bit Mrs O'Keefe with the bag, but it brokp, and be tben drew tbe bayonet. Mrs O'Keefe screamed out for help, and ber husband cam« to her asshtanoj. Brown also stated that he stabbed him with tbe bayonet again and again, and tben the man Gilliok came out and' hit Brown with a bottle. Brown went for him with the bayonet right and left.)

A PKIbONER ATTEMPTS SUICIDE. PRISONERS REVOLT. Received December 7, 11.15 p.m. SYDNEY, Decamber 7. Harris, who tried to murder the Deputy Guvernor cf the Parramatta Gaol, made an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide by banging himself, using his soaks as a rope. It is understood that the prisoners in the shop in the Darlingburst Gaol where Harris was employed a few days ago revolted and attaoked tbe officers, but were Quickly overpowered.