AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9155, 31 July 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A BIGAMIST TO BE RELEASED

Received July 30, 8.30 a.m. SYDNEY, July 30. Atholwood, the actor, sentenced to six months for bigamy, will be released to-morrow owing to illhealth. (James B. Atholwood is wellknown in New Zealand. For many years he was a prominent member of J. C. Williamson's companies).

SYDNEY'S RAINFALL

Received July 30, 8.30 a.m. SYDNEY, July 30. The weather has cleared. 8.23 points of rain fell in Sydney in two days, the greatest fall in any similar time since 1889. Received July 31, 12.50 a.m. SYDNEY, July 30. Heavy rain is again falling.

CONTROL OF MEAT SUPPLY. Received July 30, 8.30 a.m. PERTH, July 30. Owing to a combine controlling the State's meat supply raising prices, th.3 Govfrnment has appointed a Royal Commission tc deal with the matter.

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY O? COAL.

Received July 30, 8.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 30. An important discovery of anthracite coal has been made near Mirboo. The outcrop reveals a seam 2 feet 3 inches thick.

PRICE OF BUTTER.

Received July 30, 10.15 a.m. SYDNEY, July 30. Thß price of butter advanced by 12s a hundredweight in 24 hours. The selling price is now about Is 5d a pound wholesale. The causes of the advance are shortages owing to the drought on the south coast and increasing the quantity in cold storage in anticipation of the demands for the American Fleet.

THE AMERICAN FLEET

Received July 30, 10.15 a.m. SYDNEY, July 30. The Government is taking for a vote of £IO,OOO to cover the cost of the reception of the American fleet.

REPORTERS' STRIKE,

Received July 31. 12.50 a.m. PERTH, July 30. Owing to the refusal of the Government to provide proper accommodation, the Parliamentary reporting staff struck. They informed the Speaker that Parliament would :.ot be reported till better provision was made. In the absence of the reporter?, the members showed a marked disinclination to speak.