AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8342, 26 January 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PROBABLE COALITION OF PARTIES. Received January 25, 10.24 a.m. MELBOURNE, January 25. Mr Hume Cook, the Federal Government Whip, predicts an alliance between the Protectionist and Labour groups within three weeks. THE PLAGUE. Received January 25, 10.24 a.m. BRISBANE, January 25. There are thirty plague patients in Port Douglas Hospital, mostly drawn from the cane-cutters' camp. FIGHT BETWEEN BLACKS. Received January 25, 10.24 a.m. ADELAIDE, January 25. A fierce fight occurred among the blacks near Milang, 50 miles southeast of Adelaide. One man was killed, having his skull smashed in. His asasilant has been arrested. THE COOKTOWN CYCLONE. Received January 25, 10.24 a.m. BRISBANE, January 25. The missing pilot ketch, which it was supposed: had been sunk in the recentfcyclone at Cooktown, has, it is stated, reached Thursday Island safely. TROUBLE WITH WATERSIDE WORKERS. Received January 26, 12.50 a.m'. SYDNEY, January 25. Trouble is brewing with the waterside workers. A small strike occurred on the part of the lumpers and workers working on the Adelaide and Howard-Smith Company's steamers. The men object to handle copper ore and bullion at the same rates as for general cargo, and demand to be paid the rates given for loading such articles on deep-sea vessels. The position is delicate, and a spark may start a great maritime strike. : Non-union labour to handle ore on coastal steamers is freely used. The unionists, in addition to the request for deep-sea. rates, make a return to work conditional. The non-unionists employed since Saturday last are being dispensed with. ROBEBRY FROM A STEAMER. Received January 25, 11.8 p.m. SYDNEY, January 25. In October last a thousand sovereigns were stolen from the steamer Navua while on a voyage to the Islands. Efforts to trace the robber were futile until the Government yesterday offered a stimulant in the shape of £IOO reward and 10 per cent, of any money recovered. To-day the police arrested a man who was formerly a seaman on the Navua on suspicion. Four hundred pounds were found among his possession; .