AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8533, 11 September 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

FIRE IN A PRISON, Received September 10, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 10. A number of prisoners weie left alone for ten minutes in a flax room. ' When the warder returned he found the room on fire. The prisoners willingly assisted to subdue the flames, but the flax-mak-ing machinery was destroyed. It is believed the prisoners caused the fire through resentment at being made to work such a profitable industry without remuneration. A VALUABLE FIND. Received September 10, 10.8 a.m. SYDNEY, September 10. An immense deposit of magnesite has been discovered at Fifield. The University authorities expatiate on the value of the deposit in the manufacture of fire bricks and furnace linings. (Magnesite is native magnesium carbonate occurring in white compact or granular masses, and also in rhombohedral crystals). A HIGH PRICED RAM. Received September 10, 10.8 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 10. A four-tooth Lincoln ram realised 166 guineas, which is an Australian record for sheep of British breed. A STEAMER IN TROUBLE. Received September 30, 10.8 a.m. FREMANTLE, September 10. The steamer 'i'okornaru, bound from Port Pirie to Durban, put in here for repairs. She' encountered a terrific hurricane and lost 25 feet of her bulwarks. The lifeboat was smashed, and it is i eared.a number of plates were strained. (The Tokomaru belongs to the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company. She is a steel screw steamer of G,238 tons gross). AN IDEA. Received September 10, 10.8 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 10. The Premier (the Hon. T. Bent) is inclined to bring in a Bill to assist charities by taxing football matches, theatres and race meetings. A BIG BEQUEST.

Received September 10, 10.27 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 10. The trustees of the la-e Mr Edward Wilson, of the ArgUo, have offered the Committee of the Melbourne Hospital one hundred thousand pounds to build a new hospital. NEW SOUTH WALES GENERAL ELECTIONS. Received Septembsr 11, 12.30 a.m. SYDNEY", September 10. The General Elections were held todav. . The returns are coming in slowly. A few city and suburban figures are complete. As predicted the returns have produced some surprises. Messrs Carruthcrs, Hogue and Wade have been re-elected by large majorities, and also'Mr McGowan, the Labour Leader. At Darling Harbour Mr John Norton, Independent, replaces Mr Daley, Labour; in the Phillips electorate Mr Meagher, Independent, replaces Mr Sullivan, Labour. At Waverley Mr Onslow, Independent, was elected in the place of Mr Jessep, Ministerialist. At St. Leonards, another Ministerial seat was lost to Mr Clark, Independent. Labour gained a couple of seats at Balmain and Rozelle, defeating Ministerialists in both instances. At Surry Hills Mr Cnck wooed the electors with three other candidates, but had to be content with third place, Mr Graham, a Ministerialist, winning the seat. Mr Dacey, Labour, ousted Mr Bruntneel, Ministerialist, and Secretary of the New South Wales Alliance at Alexandria. Labour gained Leichardt and Camperdown at the Government's expense, Botany also going to Labour. Received September 11, 1.5 a.m. SYDNEY, September 10. At Wickham, Mr Graham, Labour, won the x seat from Mr Fegan, Ministerialist. All members of the Ministry are believed to be safe. Practically the whole of tHe country returns are I incomplete. A feature of the election, so far, is the success of the Labour and Independent candidates in the metropolitan areas. The incomplete returns indicate that the Government are holding their position in the country. The metropolitan area has returned eighteen Ministerialists, ten Labour, and six Independent. Including the country electorates wher? the returns fairly well indicate which candidates will win, the latest figures are — Ministerialists ... 22 Labour 16 Independent ... ... Q It is improbable that the Local Option poll will be available for a day or two, but the No-license Party claim that the majority of the electorates will be found to have voted for reduction and a few, for nolicense. The poll on the liquor question is admittedly very heavy.