AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 252, 22 October 1907, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

THE WANT OF RAIN. The serious outlook in the country owing to the want of rain is commented upon by visitors to various parts of the State (says the "Daily Telegraph"), and all agree that the situation in many localities is very critical. The Director of Agriculture, Mr W. S. Campbell, has just returned from the Manilla district, and he repeats the statements about the unsatisfactory condition of the crops. .If rain were to come within the next few days, however, much of the crops will be saved, but failing that the losses will be very severe. Mr Campbell went to Manilla to deliver a lecture on agricultural matters at the request of the farmers and settlers. On Saturday there was an exhibition of horses and other stock on the recreation reserve, and in the evening a banquet, followed by the lecture. An Agricultural Society will probably shortly be formed in the district. "TATTERSALL'S" WILL. The best laid plans "gang aft a-gley," and so it has proved in the case of the will of the late George Adams, of "TattersallV sweep consultation fame. Remembering, apparently, that he made his fortune out' of the confidence reposed in bim by the public, he set out in his last will and testament to leave something to public charities. But, instead of naming in the document specific charitable objects to which he wished a percentage of the future sweep earnings to be applied, he made the bequest in general terms, so general aB to become, in the opinion of Mr Justice Street, who had the construing of the will, too vague to warrant the Court giving effect to it. The trustees were empowered by the will to devote mo.ney to philanthropic and benevolent purposes, and the point was successfully' taken'"before his Honor that, inasmuch as a gift could be philanthropic ; or benevolent without"being charitable, the bequest became void from uncertainty, as the trustees could expend money on a laudable enough object which would not, however, bo in the interests of charity. Excellent as was the testator's intentic-a to offer incense at the shrine of Charity during the'year's to come in which lh. big sweeps may still be tunning, the Court has hold that it cannot be, and that the money must be devoted to other purposes. A bequest to the sweep emplo3-ecs was attacked, but his Honor has held it to be a good one. Argument in the case is still proceeding on the other points, which, porcupine-like, have obtruded themselves fo.- judicial treatment. H.M.S. PSYCHE. H.M.S. Psyche, from Sydney to Adelaide, called at Portland, having encountered heavy gales, during which the condensing machinery broke down. Repairs were effected there, and she sailed again this evening. The chief engineer, who had met with injuries to his head through a fall, attempted to commit suicide, cutting his throat in his delirium. His condition is serious. ' PROFESSIONAL RUGBY FOOTBALL. - TEAM FOR ENGLAND. Mr. J. J. Giltinan ss in receipt of a cable from the English Northern Rugby tlnion regarding a proposed visit froina New South Wales professional team. It is intended to await the receipt of the letter of particulars before deciding whether the trip will be undertaken in August next or otherwise. The local league expects to pass the constitution on Fridn.y next. SHOCKING SAWMILL FATALITY. William Simms, employed at Morrish Brothers' sawmills, Alstonville (New South Wales), was caught in the drivingbelt of the winch, and his right arm torn from his body. He was the only person in the mill at the time of the accident, Mr. Morrish being engaged in preparing logs for transit to the saw. Mr. Morrish detected that something was amiss on account of the peculiar sound made by the belt, and on investigating discovered Simms, whose an" 1 had been carried away by the machinery into another part of the building. Simms remained conscious, i\nd exclaimed, "I'm done for this time," He died in less than half-an-hour. ATTEMPTED MURDER. A , sturdily-built young man, David Victor. Orchard, was found guilty at the Supreme Court, Bendigo, of the attempted murder of John Cameron, on August 13... Accused, on that. date, was discharged froir. the service of the Great Extended Hustler's mine, and because he was refused a reference, picked up a case of gelignite and deliberately cast it down the shaft. The case struck an ascending cage, .and was smashed to pieces, the contents being scattered in all: directions, but by some means an explosion did not result. There were about 25 miners working underground, including Cameron and anothe'. who were engaged in the bottom of the shaft. Had the explosion occurred, Cameron and the other miners would, perhaps, have -been killed. .... The defence was that the accused had be.n drinking heavily, and was not ac-countable-.for-his-actions. Accused said to the jury, "I had no idea of injuring

anyone. Many times I haye saved lives in that mine." The jury, :when returning a verdict of guilty, strongly recommended the accused to mercy on account; of the muddied state he was in at the time he committed the act. THE WOOL SEASON. . . The amount of wool received this season at the three shipping depots of New South Wales, Darling Harbour, Newcastle, and Morpeth, disclose a big increase, as compared with last year. This is due largely to the fact that the roads just now .in the country are in better condition than they were Jast year, when heavy rains.made sojne of-them, impassable. For the week the returns: show that 43,558 bales- were received, j being an improvement of 24,658, making- the total for -the season, which commenced on July 1 last, 258,224, or an increase of 120,725 bales. CHILD KILLED *BY TICK. A few days ago the nine-months-old daughter of Henry Bernhard Baade, a fif-hennan, living between Swan Beach and Cunninghame (Vie), was found to have a tick fastened t<? her arm. The child became seriously ill, and Dr. Glassford was sent for from Bairnsdale, but before his arrival death occurred from paralysis, brought on by the tick poisoning-