AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 399, 16 February 1899, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[rjNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT). Melbourne, February 14. A peculiar fatality has occurred at Charlton. A farmer named Kehidy and his wife were driving, when a spark from his pipe fired his wife's dress. Her clothes were completely burned, aud she died in agony. The burning dress started a destructive grass fire. In connection with the recent ChingtuArawatta collision, the Court of Marine inquiry found Captain Lee of the Arawatta guilty of misconduct, and suspended his certificate for a month and fined him £52. Briner, the victim of the Queenscliffc Barracks shootiDg affair, is dead. Sxdney, February 14. A mau has been found dead near Narrabri with a bottle of strychnine alongside him. He had previously mentioned that his name was Thomas Williamson. He recently came from New Zealand, where he lost his wife and children, and all his money, being left penniless. The Daily Telegraph adversely criticises the New Zsaland old age pensions scheme, aud considers a much larger amount than has been provided will be required to make proper provision for the needy poor aud aged. Adelaide, February 14. Before the Easter encampment the whole of the defence forces will be armed with Martini-Eofield rifles, and smokeless powder wdl be used. A big fire is raging in the Mannet mine. A man named Clarke was seriously injured.