AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8347, 1 February 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PLAGUE IN SYDNEY. Received Janury 31, 9.58 a.m. SYDNEY, January 81. Plague-infected rats are being found in various quarters. The area of infection has extended to Bathurst Street on the south and Hunter Street on the north. DEATH OF A STEAMER STEWARD. Received January 31, 8.40 a.m. BRISBANE, January 31. A steward on the steamer Hornby Grange was found dead in the street with a hole through one of his hands as if made by a bullet. WRECK OF THE AUSTRALIAN. Received January 31, 8.40 a.m. ADELAIDE, January 31. The Marine Board finds that the loss of the Australian was due to an extraordinary set of tides, and it was to be regretted that under the abnormal conditions the lead was not used. ___________ i NEWS FROM CHINA. Received January 31, 8.20 a.m. BRISBANE, January 31. The Changsha brings news from China that some uneasiness is felt about the safety of the steamer Varzin, with 200 Koreans ■' aboard. The vessel is reported to have struck a mine and sunk after leavI ing Vladivostock. The Chunchuses are, it is stated, proving very troublesome, several Europeans having been murdered.

A BIG FIRE. Received January 31, 9.45 p.m. I SYDNEY, January 31. A fire destroyed nearly the whole of the business portion of the town of Kempsey. The remainder of the town was saved by a couple of buildings being burnt in order to form a gap against the main conflagration. The damage amounts to between £30,000 and £40,000. Received January 31, 11.30 p.m. SYDNEY, January 31. The fire at Kempsey started in the Chronicle office. Savage's large store, which was completely destroyed, was insured for £6,000 in various offices. The National Insurance Company had a line of £BOO. THE TROUBLE ON THE SONOMA. Received January 31, 9.52 p.m. SYDNEY, January 31. Fifty-seven of the Sonoma's men were charged with disobeying orders. The defence was that their agreement provided for preference to Unionists. This had been broken. All of the men were sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment. Received January 31, 11.30 p.m. SYDNEY, January '3t The Seamen's Union, to-night, decided to man the Sonoma to-morrow morning. There is a probability that the stewards and cooks will strike. AN APPOINTMENT DECLINED. Received January 31, 9.52 p.m. i SYDNEY, January 31. Mr Watson has decided not to accept the appointment of Navigation Commissioner for private^reasons. .., CYCLONE.

Received January 31, 11.30 p.m. SYDNEY, January 31. A cyclone did a large amount of damage at Gunnedah, unroofing many buildings. HIDES MARKET. Received' January 31, 11.30 p.m. MELBOURNE, January 31. At the hides sale supplies on offer were small. The market is firm and prices unchanged.