AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8542, 24 September 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A HEAT WAVE. Received September 23, 9.35 a.m. SYDNEY, September 23. A beat wave prevails throughout the State. The thermometer was over 89deg. in Sydney on Saturday, the second highest September record since 1859. Bourke recorded 97deg.

THE MUEWILLUMBAH FIRE. Received September 23, 9.35 a.m. SYDNEY, September 23. The Murwillumbah Council has asked the Lord Mayor of Sydney to i stop the relief fund, as the people are not in distress. (A disastrous fire occurred recently at Murwillumbah). AN EXCITING AFFAIR. Received September 23, 10.20 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 23. While a councillor was addressing 2,000 people in a street at Ballarat an overhead electric wire broke. In the rush to escape the wire many persons were' knocked down and badly trampled on. Councillor Penhalluriack's leg was broken. A STRIKE PREDICTED. Received September 23, 10.6 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 23. A meeting of the operative bakers decided to give a week's notice unless the wages fixed by the Wages Board are paid. This is considered unlikely to be conceded, and a general strike in the baking trade is predicted. '

I SUDDEN DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN: Received September 23, 10.20 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 23. The Rev. Mr Howie, aged 70, a passenger by the Wimmera, was found dead in his cabin during the voyage. Death was due ? to natural causes. The deceased joined the Wimmera at Dunedin. LABOUR'S DESIRES. Received September 23, 8.35 a.m. PERTH, September 23. A congress of delegates of trades unions and political labour bodies sitting at Kalgoorlie, negatived proposals to make protection a plank of the federal Labour platform, and alro decided that the constitution should be amended to provide that tie federal Parliament should con'trol all the industrial legislation of the Commonwealth. FATAL CASE OF PLAGUE. Received September 23, 9.35 a.m. BRISBANE, September 23. A fatal case of plague is reported from Cairns. HELIDON SPA WATER. Received September 23, 9.32 *.m. BRISBANE, September 23. The United States Commis-, sariat Department has contracted with the Helidon Spa Company to supply 240,000 bottles of spa water for the troops in the Philippines. (Helidon is a refreshment station on the railway line, 72 miles-from Brisbane. In the neighbourhood are the noted spa water springs.)

VICTORIAN HARVEST. OUTLOOK DEPRESSED. Received September 23, 10.20 a.m MELBOURNE, September 23. The outlook for the coming harvest is depressed, particularly as regards the wheat crop. The season is remarkable for general backwardness. There has been' a shortage of rainfall. With the exception of the Wimmera district, where the prospects, although net equal to those of last year, are not altogether discouraging, the crops are only six or eight inches high, and unless an immediate soaking rain conies it is stated that there is risk of failure.

, THE NEW MAIL CONTRACT. Received September 23, 10.20 a.m. ADELAIDE, September 23. Mr Kenneth Anderson, a director of the Orient Company, has arrived in connection with the new mail contract. He states that the company intends to tender. IE thei" contract is successful, the Compar.y will put on faster, larger, and more up-to-date vessels; if they lose the contract they will have to re-arrange the service. They would, in that event, be unable to continue the passenger service, as it is the subsidy only which has enabled the shipping company to run that class of ship. LORD HOWE ISLAND. Received September 23, 11.15 p.m. SYDNEY,, September 23. Mr Fai-nell, Commissioner at Lord Howe Island, has returned from 3 visit to the Island, and declares that there is not a happier or more contented community in existence. During his eight years' commissionership there had not been a single case of crime. The crops were looking well, and the prospects generally were encouraging. An epidemic of whooping cough last month caused the death of three children.

CABLE NEWS,

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