AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8481, 9 July 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AN OLD WOMAN MURDERED. Received July 8, 6.19 p.m. SYDNEY, July 8. An old woman named Macnamara, who lived alone at Enmore, was found dead in bed with a strip of calico round her neck and her head ] battered in. Robbery was evidently the motive for the crime. The house had been ransacked, but the robber overlooked £3O that was in a box. COAL LUMPERS' DISPUTE. Received July 8, 3.17 p.m. SYDNEY, July 8. The conference of the Steam Collier Owners and Stevedores' Association and the Coal Lumpers' Union has proved abortive. When the conference resumed, today, the Secretary of the Lumpers' Union announced that the employers' proposals had been submitted to a meeting of the Union, which unanimously decided not to work with free labourers; also not to accept the wages and conditions for night work. Mr Byrnes, President of the Conference, on behalf of the employers, expressed regret at the men's decision. Under the circumstances the employers would have no alternative but to decline to proceed with the conference. Thereupon the employers withdrew the offers previously made by them, and the conference ended. TAILORESSES THREATEN TO GO ON STRIKE. Received July S, 10.42 a.m. SYDNEY, July 8. The secretary of the Tailoresses' Union states that two thousand tailoresses will go on strike at the end ; of the week if the coal lumpers' demands are not conceded. ILLNdS 0? MR DEAKIN. Received July 8, 10.42 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 8. Mr Deakin is unwell. Rather disquieting symptoms manifested themselves on Friday. THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP. / Received July 8, 10.42 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 8. There is little doubt in Federa] circles that Sir John Forrest, Commonwealth Treasurer, who was Act-ing-Premier during Mr Deakin's absence at the Imperial Conference, will be appointed High Commissioner in London within a week or two. NEW MAIL CfNTRACr. Received Jul/ 8. 10.42 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 8. Tenders for the new mail contract will close on October 3rd, on terms previously cabled. (Offers are to be invited for a service to ports in all the States, including Brisbane, which is not at present served by the P. and 0. and Orient Lines. A specific time is to be allowed for the building of new boats. Tha penalty for failing to fulfil the contract was to be double the amount fixed in the first contract). A STEAMER OVERDUE. Received July 8, 10.42 a.m. HOBART, July 8. Some anxiety is felt for the safety of the steamer Mahinapua, which is five days overdue on the voyage from Hobart to Strachan. She may be sheltering on the coast where no telegraphic communication exists. (The Mahinapua was for some years in the Nelson and West Coast trade.) SHOCKING FATALITES. Receiv ed July 8, 9.48 p.m. SYDNEY, July 8. I A party of visitors to Katoomba paid a visit yesterday to view the wonderfully beautiful sight of the fa'ls and cascades in a frozen state. A boy, named Lannen, 13 years of age, crossed a piece of ice about twenty'feet square when he slipped and fell shrieking over a ledge into the chasm 200 feet below. He was dashed to death. A precisely similar fatality occurred at the same spot this morning. A young woman, named McAr ; ney, in company with other sight-seers, went out to view the falls, and it is surmised that she went to see the spot where the lad fell. She began to slip on the same body of ice. Every 'effort she made to regain her footing was unavailing, although a bystander clutched at the girl's clothes and made an effort, to save her, but she disappeared over the brink into the deep perpendicular gully, and was hurled to death. Both bodies were shockingly mutilated. FATAL CASE OF PLAGUE. Received July 9, 1.5 a.m. BRISBANE, July 8. A fatal case of plague has occurred here. The victim was employed in a grocer's shop. A NEW ZEALAND RACEHORSE. Received July 9, j1.5 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 8. 5 It is not intended to start Lion Heart at Flemington to-morrow. He shows no ill effects of his run en Saturday.

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