AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXII, Issue 3466, 23 October 1896, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

New Guinea exploration

Cooktown, October 21. — Advices from New Guinea state Sir W. MacGregor after ascending Mt. Scratch! ey discovered a stretch bf magnificent country in which are splendid lakes.

The natives proved friendly and are described as the finest specimens of the Native race in New Guinea.

Curious tragedy-

Brtsbane, October 22. — A curious tragedy is reported from Townsville where Kirton, a chemi3t and' Martin, manager of the United Insurance Co. were found dead in a bedioom over Kirton's shop. Kirton had a short time previously sent to a neighbouring chemist for pruasic acid. The theory if that he had given his friend an opiate which acted fatally and then finding what he had done, poisoned himself.

Fatal blasting accident

Sydney, October 21.— At the inquest on the fatal blasting accident at the North Bydney sewage works a rather sad accident was related.

The man O'Sullivan, who put in the charge was working through to meet McNamara, the deceased ; as the men came nearer it was necessary to warn eaoh other when a charge was about to be fired.

O'Sullivan forgot to give the signal but he remembered the omission after he got some distance away and ran back, but dropped his candle and then becoming confused rushed away and ran into the tunnel at the other end.

O'Sullivan, who assisted to carry out his dying mate, has been committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter.

Wreck and loss of life

Sydney, October 22. — The steamer Dayspring is a total wreck off Newcastle, New Caledonia ; so far as can be ascertained the Dayspring had no passengers ; she left here on the 6th with her

usual cargo of stores and struck: th© reef on t! be noxrfcK coast of New Caledonia a week ago-

The Captain, mate, engineer aud seven others landed safely but a boat with six of the crew is missing. . „ The vessel was quite new and coat £12,000 and is believed to be only insured for half her value.

Cycling record

Sydney, October 22.— A great performance was put up on the agricultural track to-day by W. KenY He was paced by a triplet on which Simpson, the New Zealander, had a seat, the quarter mile was run off in 164-5 seconds and the mile in 1 minute 57 seconds, both of which are Australian records.

Sporting

Melbourne, October 22. — The Skipper is being supported for the' Melbourne Cup for £5000 at 100 to 8 ; Broken Hill and Newhaven at 100 to 6 .; Chevalier, Officer, Hopscotch, Resolute, 100 to 5 ; Charge, Sabretache, Bloodshot, O'TriggeriMarusa, Erewhon, Pivot, Tire, 100 to 4; Devon, 100 to 3.