AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8377, 11 March 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

ALLEGED BABY FARMING. PERTH, March 9. In the baby farming case against Mrs Mitchell, a witness deposed thai while he was staying with accused, the latter told him that his chile would always be a nuisance, anc would keep him poor. He said that he'jwould give her £1( and 10s weakly, if she would get ric |of the child. She would give i 1 opening medicine or would stick t hat pin in its heart. THE MAIL CONTRACT. MELBOURNE, March 9. It is reported that the syndicate which holds the Australian mail con tract probably tender for a line of fast mail steamers betweer Canada and Australia via New Zea land, for which they have hean tenders are likely to be called bj the Canadian, the Commonwealth and the i\ew Zealand Governments. The representatives of the syndi cate have obtained promises, aggre gating several hundred thousanc pounds, from prominent Victoriai investors, to buy debentures. LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION. MELBOURNE, March 9. A deputation representing nearl; six-hundred unemployed interviews Sir John Forrest, Federal Treasurer and offered their services for th Queensland sugar plantations. The urged that there is no need fo planters to import Italians. Sir John Forrest, in a sympatheti reply, said he considered Australia 1 first duty was to find employmer for her own people, He promise an inquiry. SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. SYDNEY, March 9. It is understood that George Towi is writing to Webb, of Wanganui, t to-day's mail, and will inform hii that he (Towns) is willing to row i New Zealand, provided that Web conforms with the usualchampionshi : conditions. ' Received March 10, 4.48 p.m. , SYDNEY, March 10.. Rumours regarding the scullir championship are rife. It is state that Durnan, who was recently di feated by George Towns, is makir overtures to row another race wil ] Towns at Toronto, and that there ' a possibility of the Towns brothe: visiting Canada, where George < Charlie will meet Durnan. When asked regarding Charl Towns' challenge, George Towns sa he did not think there would be r race between them. This strengths j the report that George Towns intern handing the championship to Charl Towns. I Stanbury and Arnst (New Ze g land) are stated to be desirous making a match with George Town I ( THE PLAGUE. s -... 6 BRISBANE, March 9. A case of plague has occurred the city.

RESCUED AT LAST. THE CROZET ISLAND CASTAWAYS. HOBART, March 9. The New Zealand Shipping Con. pany's steamer Turakina has arrived, bringing the eleven members of the crew of the schooner Catherine, who were left on the Crozet Islands after the schooner was wrecked there on December 14th, When the Turakina touched at the island where the castaways were, on her voyage from Capetown, the men were found to be in a bad state of health, owing to their subsisting on penguins and albatrosses' eggs, .sea elephants, and the food placed on 1 {he island by the Government 27 years ago., The latter was not very wholesome, but they were forced to use it. A bottle of whisky that was washed ashore was kept for Christmas Day. On arrival at Hobart the men were provided with clothing and the necessary comforts. Seven of the Catherine's men will ship as crew of a Norwegian barque now loading at Southport. The remainder will go to Melbourne. (All the members of the Catherine's crew were Norwegians except one).

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright j