AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9046, 4 February 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CABLE NEWS.

Untied Press Association —Bv Electric Telegraph Copyright.

UNFORTUNATE BABIES.

DISCLOSURES AT AN INQUEST. STORY OF CRUELTY AND NEGLECT. Received February 3, 11.17 a.m. BRISBANE, February 3. An inquest held on five babies at the premises of a registered nurse revealed a shocking story of cruelty and neglect.' The little ones were tied hand and foot to prevent them from throwing their bedclothes off, and their surroundings were very dirty. The coroner said the evidence was not sufficient to enable him to commit the nurse for manslaughter, but hehoped she could - be punished for cruelty.

METHODIST MINISTER'S SUICIDE. A DETERMINED ACT. Received February 3, 11.30 a.m. SYDNEY, February 3. The Rev. Thomas Bird, Methodist minister, has committed suicide in the King's Park. He first swallowed strychnine and then shot himself. Deceased was a witness before the Royal Commission on the I.fingworth land scandals. His connection with the matter arose from his purchasing p. property from Illingworth, on which the latter obtained a loan from, the Treasury in the name'of Dunning. There was no suggestion of dishonourable conduct on Bird's part, but the notoriety it brought him into evidently preyed on his mind. ' Mr Bird left a note, saying—-"For a long time I have..; wished to die, I am so disappointed at my oStfri'weakness. Men do as they like with me with money matters, and my conference, since 1901, has always opposed me." THE PLAGUE. Received February 3, 11.17 a.m. BRISBANE, February 2. Plague rats have been discovered on the Mulgrave plantation, twenty miles from Cairns. A cook on the station died this week. MONSOONAL RAINS. Received February 3, 11.17 a.m., SYDNEY, February 3. Monsoonal rains have drenched the country, particularly the dairying areas where they wer-j so much needed.