AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8324, 4 January 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE REVENUE.

; Received January 3, 9.49 a.m. MELBOURNE, January 3. ; The Commonwealth Customs and Excise revenue for the last six months amounted to £4,837,000 —an increase of £300,000.

LICENSES IN MILDURA. Received January 3, 9.49 a.m. MELBOURNE, January 3. Mildura is no longer a prohibition settlement. The first license became operative at the beginning of this year, and on the first day there were more arrests for drunkenness than during the whole of last year.

THE VICTORIAN MINISTRY. Received January 3, 9.49. a.m. MELBOURNE, January 3. Mr Thomas Langdon, member for , Korong, has accepted the portfolios of Chief Secretary and Minister for Labour in the State Ministry, in place of Sir Samuel Gillott, resigned. EXTENSIVE BUSH FIRES. Received January 3, 9.49 a.m. SYDNEY, January 3. Bush fires in the Wagga district have destroyed big areas of grass and large quantities of bagged and standing wheat.

DIMINISHED GOLD YIELD. Received January 3, 9.49 a.m. PERTH, January 3. The output of gold in West Australia last year was 1,794,5450z5, valued at £7,693,000. This is the lowest yield for some years. SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. Received January 3, 9.49 a.;n. SYDNEY, January 3. George Towns, the champion sculler, and Durnan, the Canadian, have signed articles to row for the championship of the world on March 2nd. RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS. Received January 3, 9.49 a.m. g SYDNEY, January 3. The State Cabinet will, to-day, consider the appointment of Railway Commissioners.

UNWHOLESOME FOOD. ReceivedJJanuary 3, 9.49 a.m. PERTH, January 3. The Public Analyst of the State reports that large quantities of foods examined during the year were bad or inferior. He declares that Westralia is' made the dumping ground for bad' butter from the eastern States.

STRIKE AT ADELAIDE. Received January 3, 9.38 a.m. ADELAIDE, January 3. A strike has occurred in the building trade owing to the employers having refused the men's demand for an increase of a shilling a day. The Government works are unaffected.

THE MELBOURNE STRIKE

Received January 4, 12.16 a.m. MELBOURNE, January 3

Building contracts in the city and suburbs, which were closed on account of the strike, opened' to-day. The Strikers' Committee had every job picketed, and a constable stationed at each picketing group. It is intimated that no interference will be permitted. Work was resumed on several contracts, some of the cash contractors themselves using tools. The strikers declare that no Unionist has gone back to any job. The secretary of the Employers' Committee reports that 200 contractors have registered as "upholders of a 48 hours week.

THE CRICK-WILLIS CASE. EVIDENCE BEFORE THE ROYAL COMMISSION^ Received January 4, 12.2 a.m. ■ SYDNEY, January 3. The foreman of the jury, further examined, stated that things that occurred in the jury-room were knownl outside days before the jury got out. He gave an instance of this. Other complaints were that Mrs Willis and the wife of a juror in the body of the Court kept laughing at®the jury and distracted their attention ; that one of the sheriff's officers told the jurymen that Willis was an Orangeman and his wife a Catholic. The foreman had also been informed that two of the sheriff's officers had dinner with Crick's brother on the day the trial ended. Asked why the jury did ■ not complain of these matters, witness said that the jury discussed the matter and decided to inform the sheriff. They did not, however, because they regarded the whole trial as a farce. The two remaining jurymen were examined. One endorsed the fore ■ man's statements. The other stated that there was no fault to find. He considered that the trial was properly conducted. One of the sheriffs, under examination, admitted that he and two other officers were present with the jury one night for three-quarters of an hour, while one of the jurymen related how he sowed his wild oats. At no time during the visit was any reference made to the "facts of the case.

CABLE NEWS.

By.Telegraph—Ptess Association—Copyright

THE STEAMER IRISH MONARCH,

Received January 3, 9.49 a.m. MELBOURNE," January 3

, Examination of the steamer Irish Monarch, which arrived here on Tuesday with fire among her cargo, disclosed that the fire originated in the No. 4 lower hold, and ate its way into the between decks, where a considerable quantity of cargo was stored.

Throughout yesterday water continued to be poured into the hold where it was found the fire was still smouldering. The hold contains 1,500 tons of general cargo, including a thousand cases of kerosene, and a large consignment of machinery and motor-car appliances. The steamer postponed going up river to discharge till to-day though last night it was considered that all fear of further outbreak was passed.

MINES STILL IDLE. Received January 4, 12.56 a.m. NEWCASTLE, January 3 The mines are still idle.