AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8412, 29 April 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SALE OF THE, WILLYAMA. ADELAIDE, April 27. The steamer Willyama (ashore at Marion Bay), with her cargo and fittings, originally valued at over £26,000, has been sold for £9OO. A diver, examining the wreck of the barque Norman, which was sunk by the Ardencraig, discovered the body of Johnson, who was lost from the Norma.

CONGREGATIONAL UNION. SYDNEY, April 27. The Rev. Mr Kirby has been elected President of the Congregational Union of Australia. THE PROLIFIC RAT. SYDNEY, April 27. It is reported that, although 100,000 rats are destroyed every year in Sydney, the number does not seem to decrease.

THE NEW HEBRIDES. ! SYDNEY, April 27. Captain Withford, one of the oldest traders in the New Hebrides, informed an interviewer that the French have a jfree hand in landing liquor and firearms in the Islands. The result is that the French are securing the bulk of the trade of the Islands, and the British are hopelessly handicapped. All that the Australian Government has ever done has been to, use the naval power against the British settlers in fining them. The fact that Britishers are still left in the New Hebrides is not because of British protection, but in spite of its absence. The British regulations are openly ignored by the French settlers, and are treated as a farce in every way. It is a disadvantage for a man to own himself a British subject. Captain Withford has little faith in tie new Convention. It will probably be the snme olci heartbreaking story over again, the regulations being enforced on the British and laughed at by the French.

EXPANSION IN BANKING BUSINESS.

SYDNEY, April 27

The New Sooth Wales' quarterly banking returns indicate a decided expansion of business. Current accounts totalled £9,034, - 000, an increase of £2,957,000, compared with the previous March quarter. The fieure has never before reached £7,000,000. The total deposits are £41,800,000, an increase of £2,080,000. The figure had never previously touched £40,000,000. : The note circulation increased by 15 and advances by 7 per cent.

COAL LUMPERS' STRIKE

SYMPATHY MOVEMENT. SYDNEY, April 27. • The Sydney coal lumpers' delegates attended a meeting of the Newcastle Wharf Labourers' Union, which informally decided to assist the local lumpers to the extent of refusing to load vessels which usually coal in Sydney.

DISCOVERY OF MARBLES. Received April 29, 12.42 a.m. MELBOURNE, April 28. The discovery of magnificent coloured marbles has been made in the Omeo district. The marbles have been traced over 16 miles in extent into New South Wales. In addition to the coloured varieties a deposit of white statuary marble* has bten found, which experts consider equal to the best carrara.