AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 177, 25 July 1908, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

PROGRESS OF IMMIGRATION. According to the' Intelligence Department reports during the six months ended June 30, 1318 assisted immigrants have arrived in New South Wales. Of tins number England contributed 806, Scotland 325, Ireland 141, Wales 34, i-outh Africa 6, and foreign countries 6. Out of the total, 391 were nominated by relatives and friends in New South Wales, and 56 pet cent, of the nominees were brought out by persons who were themselvee recently arrived immi<rrants. From the United Kingdom the arrivals numbered 1300, representing an increase of 200 over the corresponding period of last year. Besides the 13IS assisted immigrants, land or employment was Jound by the department for 450 persons who made their way to the State, largely as the result of it 3 advertising policy. Of these, 53 -were agriculturists from other States, 2CB came from the United Kingdom, 996 from British dependencies, and 33 from foreign countries. CHAMPION SWIMMER'S DEPARTURE. Mr Reg. Henly (half-mile champion swimmer of New South Wale 3) was entertained by his comrades in the East Sydney Swimming Club at the Sports Club on Saturday, just prior to his departure for Wellington (N.Z.) by the Warrimoo. Mr D. Levy, M.L.A., who presided spoke highly of Mr Healy's ability as an athlete, and his general bearing and great popularity. Mr James Taylor (chairman of the New South Wales Amateur Swimming Association) followed in similar strain. The departing champion carried away with the good wishes ol his club fellows a handsome little presentation. SCAFFOLDIHG CO&LAF&IES. FOUR MEN INJURED. MELBOURNE, July 15.—0n Monday last a workman wae killed at a building being erected in West Melbourne tor Messrs Sands and McDougall, through a heavy beam falling, and to-day four men were injured owing to the collapse of some scaffolding there.

Frederick de Kuyper, Jahn Fisher, John Nieman, and George Clare were carrying bricks along the scaffolding when it gave way, and they fell a distance of 25ft. De Kuyper sustained severe internal heroorhage, cuts and shock; Fisher an injury to his back, and shock; Nieman is suffering from shock and injuries to his legs, cuts and abrasions; Clare has cuts on the arms and bruises. They were taken to the Melbourne Hospital. CTTKIOtTS FENDS IN A GOLDMINE. MELBOURNE, July 17.—-Two finds of a curious character were made in the working of the Rocky Mountain Gold•Sluicing Co.*3 mine, Beechworth, during the week. In washing away ground, a hollow Gtump was discovered, in which a full plant of coining materials was found, with some coins for distribution. Next day, near tho same place, a "plant" containing five bottles of brandy was unearthed. Both "finds ,, have, been covered over by earth for over 40 years. ON THE EVE OF BXARXtXAGE. MELBOURNE, July 17.—Tho body found on tho railway line between Ringwood and Mitcham on Wednesday morning lias been identified as that of Henry John Derrick, Echoolmaster, who has been missing from Huntly for some days. Deceased, who waa 45 years of age, had been keeping company with a young lady residing in the district, and the marriage ceremony was fixed for last Saturday week in Bendigo. The young lady went in to Bendigo to the place at which the ceremony wae to have taken place, but Derrick did not attend. It haS been ascertained that he went to Bendigo on the day in question, and in bid' ding a cabman good-bye said he might not see him again. A LOPTELY DEATH. ADELAIDE, July 17. —John Maloncy, an old man, living alone, close to Caltowie, was found dead in bed on Wednesday evening. A man working at a neighbouring farm, noticing tho absence of any sign of life, opened the door and made the discovery. Deceased ia supposed to have been dead for some time. He had resided at Onltowie for 30 years. GIRL ACCIDENTALLY SHOT. TIEMORA, July 15.—Miss Ida Aim Coleman, daughter of Mr John Coleman, the well-known-grazier, of Eogenderra, Morangarell, 20 miles from Temora, met with a terrible accident to-day on her father's estate. The unfortunate girl, who was 23 years of age, while attempting to shoot a fox, accidentally shot herself, receiving terrible injuries, from which she succumbed. Miss Coleman waa to have been married in three weeks , time.