AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9030, 22 February 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyri ;ht.

CHARGE OB MANSLAUGHTER.

STRONG REMARKS BY THE

JUDGE,

Received February 21, 10.25 a.m BRISBANE, February 21.

A ycung married couple named Smith were sentenced to five years' imprisonment each for the manslaughter of their child, aged two, through neglect. The jury recommended the accused to mercy.

The Chief Justice: "I think you are a very merciful lot of jurymen. What can you say of persons who allow a child of two, having such injuries, that its finger rots off, joint by joint? I cannot imagine seen inhuman conduct."

Accused's counsel: "They are both stupidly ignorant." The Chief Justice: "Ignorant! Why, a brute would not do it. I don't believe a word of the story about the imuries being caused by scalding or burning.

THE FEDERAL TARIFF,

DUTY ON FLANNELS AND BLANKETS.

Received February 21, 9.58 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 21. The general duty on blankets, which the Federal House reduced to 20 per ''ent., was restored by the State to 30. per cent. It was also decided to increase the duty on flannels against the United Kingdom from 20 to 25 per cent.

DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS

ANOTHER MICROBE.

Received February 21, 9.58 a.m SYDNEY, February 21

The Rabbit Destruction Committee will the Government to make a test on the mainland of the microbe known as "yalgogrin." The microbe is so called from the locality in which it is found. It is claimed to be as effective as the Danysz virus.

SPLENDID RAINS.

Received February 21, 9.58 a.m. SYDNEY, February 21. Splendid rains have fallen over two-thirds of the State, ranging from an inch to over two inches. Received February 22, 1.3 a.m. SYDNEY, February 21. There was a smart shower tonight. The weather is unsettled.

VICTORIA'S GAMING ACT.

PROCEEDINGS AGAINST- NEWS-

PAPERS

Received February 21, 10.19 a.m MELBOURNE, February,2l.

The "Melbourne Argus" and "Age" were proceeded against for breaches of the Gaming Act in pubishing the information that a certain horse ha'l been made favourite for a race, and announcing the winners of Tattersall's sweeps. tioth journals gave an undertaking not to offend again, and the charges were withdrawn.

RE-MODELLING SYDNEY

Received February 21, 9.58 a.m. SYDNEY. February 21. The City Council has asked the Premier to appoint a Royal Commission to consider the question of remodelling Sydney. The Lord Mayor pointed uut that the cost would be too heavy for the council The Premier replied that he was generally favourable to the proposal.

A MISSIONARY MURDERED

Received February 22, 1.3 a.m. THURSDAY ISLAND, Feb. 21. Peter Bee, a Samoan Missionary, has been murdered by the natives of tha Presbyterian mission station at Arukntn. Bee was relieving the resident missionary, who is away on a holiday. After spearing Bee, the natives threatened to murder his' wife. They left the mission property undamaged.