AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 256, 26 October 1907, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

DROWNED IN TEN INCHES OF : WATER Elizabeth . Dewhurst, a widow, aged 70,> was found dead in a bath at the residence of her son-in-law, Annandale. Mrs Hasler saw the old lady go out into the yard about eight o'clock. Some time after she went out to look for her, but could not find her. She then searched the house, and on opening the bathroom door found Mrs Dewhurst partially dressed, lying 'face. downwards in the bath inabout 9 or 10 inches of water! She called her husband, who got the old lady out, and sent for a-doctor, but he could only pronounce life extinct.. . r ' ' lAftf AUSTRALIAN INVEJSTTOR. Mr C. Dale, of Port Adelaide, who some time ago submitted to Vice-Admiral Fawkes, plans • of his invention in con.neetion, with, submarines, returned by theGerman steamer Bulqw. Whilst in Eng-. land, he unsuccessfully endeavoured to interview the Lords of the Admiralty. He believes that two submarines are being constructed, secretly at Chatham dockyard from plans he submitted. He states he has. had several: 'letters fronl the Continental Powers ": concerning hi 3 invention, but that'he has not negotiated with them. Although his mission to the Admiralty was a failure, he is still sanguine he will hear from that body. Whilst going to Europe, in the Bremen, he stated that one day whilst he was on deck his luggage was broken open, and searched with a view, presumes) of stealing the plans of his invention. . ' • MAN-KILLED AT ORANGE. : ,:.'•■, ' A serious shooting affray, ending in the death of a man, occurred in Ansonstreet, Orange, New South Wales. So far as details can be gathered it appears that two men, supposed to be named Scanlon and Smith, were " standing in front of a. store, when. Scanlon .drew a revolver arid fired at Smith, but missed. He then fired, a . second time; hitting Smith ,in,the. groin. , The injured man was removed to" the hospital, where-he died three-quarters of an hour later. The assailant then went down the street to an hotel, where he admitted that he had shot a man: He had a drink of whisky, and having reloaded the weapon, went away, and disappeared, after threatening any with, a like fate that attempted to take him down- A number of people kept him under surveillance . after the fatal shot was fired, but could not venture to detain him in consequence of his ueing armed, and he escaped from their notice in the crowd and confusion. The police subsequently arrested Scanlon. The affray is supposed to' have originated . out .of some money matter. It is alleged that Scanlon wanted some money which was in Smith's possession. INDIGENT AUTHORS. A scheme drawn up by Sir Langdon Bonython, Rev. E. H. Sugden, and Professor MacCallum, for the distribution of an annual vote, which is not to be less' than £525 per annum, for the relief of indigent authors, has been submitted.t'p the House of [Representatives." It is proposed'that the fund shall be available ■fop-a-uthors who, by--reason-of-age or infirmity, are unable to support themselves; the families of literary men who have died poor; and literary men doing good work, but- unable, on account of poverty, to persist in that -work. "Families" is to include not merely widows and children, but near relatives, of. infirm or those of tender years, who had been dependent on the income of deceased authors-during their lifetime.'- The maximum payment is to be £2 per week, and all claims upon the fund must receive the sanction of the Governor-General-in-Council, and be announced in the "Commonwealth Gazette." • It is suggested that the fund should be managed by a committee of three, who would have the assistance of a representative in each State, whose duty it would be to communicate the names of and report on deserving cases. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Rev. A. N, Johnson, home secretary of the London Missionary Society, and Mr Edward Smith, arrived by the K3IS. Orontes as delegates to branches of the society in the Australian capitals., Papna-, ana Jfew Zealand. They will stay in Sydney a week, and then proceed to Adelaide. When interviewed, Mr Johnson

said one of the dbjeets'of the visit was to deal with the situation created by the resignation of Air Pratt, the society's financial agent in Australia. Generally speaking, the expenditure of such a society -was in excess of income, and in connection with the London Missionary Society this excess amounted to £10,000. yearly. This was due in some measure to the great call for mission labourers in India and China. To make up the. deficiency this year Sir Albert Spicer, 3VIP., treasurer oi the society, suggested that all directors should give, or raise, f 40, which wouid provide a total of . £12,000. When Mr Johnson left England between £6000 and £7000 of this had been ■ contributed in Australia, there was '• a great advance "vi the amotmt of contributions. "yiKTUATXY MURDERED." The body of inah supposed to be John Bishop, _a carpenter, was found in a room in Wilson-street, Redfern, in circumstances . pointing to . suicide. Alongside the body, which, was lying on a bed, was, a sis-chambered revolver, containing four cartridges and one shell.- A note was found in the room as follows: "October 11, virtually murdered by filthy' spiritualists. Made a sound, healthy, sober man a suicide. I die'with a clear conscience. " I would not live in the state I appear to be in. What- disgtisting brutality! I wanted rest for the brain, but that is too much to in a British community. Joha Bishop, " a thorough EnglisHman." PROSPECTOR'S FORTTTDDE. MURDER IN THE WEST. PERTH, October 16/—Qwing to the dry country and the dearcity of feed where Prospector Stephen Grace was killed by natives, Inspector Mitchell, of Cue, is endeavouring fco secure sis camels for the use- of the police. Muir, who accompanied Grace 120 miles along the rabbit-proof fence, speaks Tiighly of his ,| fortitude. Although in pain the whole | time, Grace never uttered a complaint.- \ His chief thought seemed to be that he j was putting Muir to incoavenlence, Muir having to walk through giving Grace his camel. During the journey, Grace mentioned a peculiar coincidence whica occurred -just .. before the attack. .While crossing the track of- •' Canning's recent exploring party, Grace picked up a small circular brass-box. 1 A day or two before Grace had broken his watch, and he utilised the box as a case. On' examining- the box, he -found engraved on the bottom the name, "Tobin," a member of Canning's party who was speared by the natives.