AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8495, 26 July 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

OBITUARY. Received.July 2{?., 10.2 a.m. SYDNEY, July 25. The death 'is announced of Mr D. Mitchell, donor of the famous Mitchell Library, which is the most complete collection of Australian and Oceanic literature in existence, and is practically priceless. PRISON POPULATION. Received July 25/ 3.0.12 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 25. There has been a-.vemarkable decrease in the prison population of Victoria, in fifteen >years the proportion of prisoners to-the population has decreased ifrom -1 lie Gl3 to 1 in 1,229. M U NI.CIP.aL EEFOR MS. Received July 25, 10*2 a.m. SYDNEY, . July 25. The Lord Msa-or made -an important offer to the Government, which may lead to changes in municipal administration. The basis of the offer is that the municipality should -have the righ't of collecting the city land-tax, and that* in .return, the council should relieve the Government of the Rocks area—which was resumed during the plague outbreak —and other services, involving an outlay of £50,000 annually. The council will widen certain street*; and generally beautify the city, SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.. Received July 25, 10.12 a.m. SYDNEY, July 25 Webb, tlvs New Zealand sculler, is: putting in ; good work lor his match ; w.i uk Charles Towns for the champion-; sh-ip of the world, to be rowed on August 3rd. He is in excellent health, and is getting some good sprints'-out 'of t&e new sculler built for him by George Towns. Webb has, however, kept the tuuts in ignorance as to his speed. AN ANCIENT 'CELLO. Received July 25, 10.10 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 25. An ancient 'cello was found at Mount Moorah. When it was being taken to pieces for repairs, it was found to contain a label with the words "Nicolo Amati, 1624," snd a record to. the effect that it was repaired at Versailles by Louis Dandeh in 1781 for Louis XVI. (The Amati family, which flourished at Cremona in the sixteenth arid seventeenth centuries, was celebrated for violin-making. Its most noted members were Antonio and Geronimo, and Nicolo, to.i of Geronimo.) BIG DEATH RECORD. Received July 25, 10.12 a.m. SYDNEY, July 25. A serious epidemic of whooping cough, accompanied by broncho-pneu-monia, has been experienced. It has caused more deaths than for any one year since 1901. The epidemic is now abating. ALTERATION IN THE TARIFF. Received July 26, 12.27 a.m. SYDNEY, July 25. Heavy clearances are being effected in various States in anticipation of the alteration in the. tariff. At Melbourne £135,000 was paid in duty yesterday and to-day. RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY REVENUE. Received July 26, 12.27 a.m. SYDNEY, July 25. _ For the year ending June 30th railway revenue showed a gross increase j of £474,000, and the tramways I revenue an increase of £57,000, com- ! pared with the preceding year. j i A STEAMER ASHORE. j Received July 26, 12.27 a.m. SYDNEY, July 25. | News has been received that the | steamer Ysabel is ashore on a reef at j Tanin Island, in the Gilbert Group, j The vessel's position is precarious. HIDES MARKET. Received July 26, 12.25 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 25. At the hide sales there was keen competition for good conditioned lots at firm Yates.