AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1591, 25 June 1903, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

CABLEGRAMS.

(PER DNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION] [BY ELECTRIC TEJ.EOS4?H-COPYRIGgT]

SMALLPOX IN TASMANIA. Launceston, June 8. FIVE fresh cases of smallpox were discovered in town yesterday, including that of Dr. Bernard, house surgeon at the General Hospital. Houses and patieuts are being isolated, and every, precaution is being taken. The Union Company insist that all passenger* applying for tickets must produce vaccination certificates. If the New Zealand Government imposes stringent, regulations the company will temporarily abandon Hobart as a port of call, but a direct cargo boat will be put on for the Hobart and Melbourne trade, and passengers will have to go via Launceston. Consternation nrevails over the fact that since the sth inst. no less than 15 persons have been discharged from the hospital after suffering from what is now known to have been smallpox, and that the disease is liable to be spread in all directions. A larg« number are being vaccinated. Strict precautions are being taken in the other States against Tasmania, which has been declared infected. Hobart, June 24. In opening the Launceston Criminal Court to-day, the presiding Judge, after consulting with the health authorities, said he would only take plead-guilty cases ; otherwise it would meah that a largo number of witnesses from the country would run the risk of contracting smallpox. SUICIDE AT SEA. Sydney, June 24. On the homeward voyage of the Messageries Maritimes steamer Dumbla, Charles Savage, a passenger, committed suicide by shooting himHe left a letter stating that he had a bank account with the Bank of New Zealand in London and Auckland of about £2,200, to arrive about £BOO on June 18th, aud £BOO later. He left instructions to pay back L. "W. Nelson £SSO if he sends the £BOO. NEW SOUTH "WALES FINANCES., Sydney. June 24. In the Legislative Assembly the Treasurer contributed a long speech to the censure debate, in defence of the Government's financial policy, which he held was a necessity, owing to decreased revenue and other causes, keeping the expenditure within the narrowest possible liaiits.