AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8481, 8 July 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

FATAL BLASTING ACCIDENT. SYDNEY, July 5. Three men were killed and three injured owing to a blasting; accident in a railway cutting at Wolgan. Received July 7, 4.52 p.m. SYDNEY, July 7. The names of the Wolgan victims are Sweeney, Purchell and Poulson. The condition of two of the injured men is serious. The first blast partially exploded and the men returned to the face of the cutting, when the second explosion occurred. THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. SYDNEY, July 6. A prominent publican at Bathurst, with an interest in three hotels, is supporting the no-license movement. He declares that he abhors hotel associations. Five years' experience of the trade has convinced him that, in any phase, the liquor traffic is a scourge to the community. THE DRUCE CASE. MELBOURNE, July 6. William Druce, son of the claimant / to the Dukedom of Portland, has sailed for London to assist in preparing the claimant's evidence, also to look after his father's personal safety. The trial is expected to begin in October. A very strong Bar has been retained. Counsel for claimant's will be led by Mr Rufus Isaacs, K.C. BUILDING LOCOMOTIVES. SYDNEY, July 6. The Railway Commissioners are installing a locomotive building plant. They will start by building ten engines. I TRADE WITH THE EAST. MELBOURNE, July 6. The Minister for Agriculture declares that Victoria is willing to join New South Wales in subsidising a line of steamers to the Far East. THE TRANSVAAL LOAN. MELBOURNE, July 6. The State Cabinet has decided not to join South Australia in protesting against the British Government's action in postponing the issue of the Transvaal five million loan. (The line of objection taken by South Australia is that the effect on the money market caused by this action will prejudice the prospects of large conversion loans which Australian States must shortly raise.) SHEEP SALES. SYDNEY, July 6. At the sheep sales two Wanganella Estate merino rams brought 500 guineas each, and another 400 guineas. A STEAMER ON FIRE. FREMANTLE, July 6. The steel screw steamer Colonial, 4,956 tons, built at Belfast in 1903, bound from Adelaide to Durban, has put in to seek assistance to Extinguish a fire in the lower forehold. The fire, was discovered yesterday morning, when the steamer was fifty miles west of Cape Leuwin. The hatches were battoned down, and the vessel headed for port with all speed. The outbreak is supposed to have occurred amongst the wheat. After discharging a quantity of cargo on the wharf, water was poured into the lower hold, to a depth of seven feet. It is believed that the fire is out. The Colonial's cargo is valued at threequarters of a million sterling. TROUBLE IN AN OPERA COMPANY. Received July 8, 1.4 a.m. SYDNEY, July 7. Serious charges have-been levelled ■by Mr Musgrove against a leading member of the German Opera Company. The public have been disappointed on several occasions by a change of programme even after they had taken their seats. Matters reached a ■climax last night. Hitherto the ostensible reason given for the changes was the illness of this or that principal, but the frequency of such occurrences might have lead to the belief that an epidemic was raging in the company. Friday's matinee had to be abandoned and the money returned. Last night "Valkyrie" was to have been staged. One of the leading performers does not appear until the second act. She did not come at all. Then the company agreed to stage "The Flying Dutchman." The scenery for this had already been packed for New Zealand, but was unpacked rapidly and \he performance commenced, and then, Mr Musgrove asserts, the husband of the singer in this piece would not go on unless certain demands were fulfilled. Her part was eventually taken by a chorus girl, and the opera was carried through. Mr Musgrove, in a bitter .interview, declared that it is almost impossible to believe that all these incidents and illnesses have not some connected base.

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