AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 385, 21 January 1899, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[UNIT3D PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT.) (Received January 20, 9.45 a.m.). ELECTRIC LIGHT CYCLING CARNIVAL.

Sydney, January 20. At the Electric Light Cycling Carnival last night the Champion Stakes was won by Forbes, with Elliott second and Simpson third. Forbes got home by half-a-lcugth after a great finish. Mcgson and McDonald, the Australian crack 6, who were amongst the starters, fell. Time, 23min. 40 3-sths sec.

THE NEW HEBRIDES MURDER. Sydney, January 20. Details are to hand of the New Hebrides murder, from which it appears that Bell and Thompson were engaged in the copra trade, and, in ignorance, cut down certain trees which were held in reverence by the natives. A chief shortly afterwards died, and this was considered a result of the destruction of the trees. The natives tomahawked Thompson out of revenge, and Bell narrowly escaped by swimming to a canoe. MURDER AND CANNIBALISM. Perth, January 20. Two natives are charged with the murder, at Peak Hill, of a twelve-year-old native boy, whom they strangled and then ate in conformity with a religious observance consequent on the recent deatli of the boy's brother.

VICTORIAN WHEAT HARVEST. Melbourne, Jauuary 19. The Australasian's final estimate of the wheat harvest is '20,421,000 bushels, 5,000,000 bushels more than the greatest previous record. About 12,250,000 bushels will be available for export.