AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8550, 7 October 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

ILLICIT SALE OF INTOXICANTS. A FATAL FIGHT. MELBOURNE, October 5. A missionary on Oba Island complains of the evil effects on the natives by the illicit sale of intoxicants by traders. He says that two natives on the island were killed in a recent drunken fight. HON. J. H. CARRUTHERS. SYDNEY, October 5. The Hon. J. H. Carruthers (exState Premier) intends to visit New Zealand shortly. COPPER MINE CLOSED. ADELAIDE, October 5. Owing to the low price of copper the Parramatta Copper Mine at Moonta has closed down, and 300 persons are idle. A THREAT TO MURDER. SYDNEY, October 5. A man has been arrested at Brisbane for writing to Mr Samuel Hordern, a well-known merchant, threatening to murder him unless he paid £IOO. CLARA BUTT. SCORES A GREAT TRIUMPH IN SYDNEY. Received October 6, 4.58 p.m. SYDNEY, October 6. Madame Clara Butt scored a great triumph in her opening concert in the Sydney Town Hall last night. .The building was crowded, and her singing aroused enthusiasm to a high pitch. TOWING AN OLD WARSHIP. A SAILOR KILLED. VESSEL ABANDONED AT SEA. Received October 6, 4.55 p.m. SYDNEY, October 5. The French steamer St. Louis has arrived from Noumea. She set out with the old French warship Meurthe in tow for Sydney, there to be broken up. Very heavy weather came on after leaving Noumea, and it was found necessary to lengthen the towline. While the operation was proceeding the chain snapped, and struck and killed Capom, a member of the crew aboard the Meurthe. ~The weather gradually grew worse. Ultimately the men on the Meur.the.sig nailed" that they were leaving the vessel. At great risk they put off in a boat, and got aboard the St. Xouis although the boat was smashed in the attempt. The Meurthe had sprung a leak and was settling down. The tow rope was cast off, and the vessel abandoned in lat. 29.16 south long. 157. ' ■■■■-•■ ' SMELTING WORKS CLOSED. SYDNEY, The Australian Smelting Company's works at Woollongong are closed. One hundred and seventy persons are idle. It is believed, however, that it will be only temporary. FEDERAL TARIFF. MELBOURNE, October 5. In the Federal House of Representatives, on the tariff debate an amendment was carried against the Government and in favour of a.differential excise rate on hand-made tobacco. WRECK OF THE KAWATIRI. BOAT'S CREW REWARDED. HOBART, October 5. The Union Company rewarded the boat's crew, who rescued 17 from the wreck of the Kawatiri, the sums ranging from £2O to £lO.