AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 1906, 23 October 1912, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COPYRIGHT PBB PBESS ASSOCIATION.

DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED

Melbourne, October 22. The sentence of death passed on Moore, the burglar who attempted to murder Mr Syme, has been commuted to imprisonment for lire. Moore will also be flogged. The death sentence passed on Edward Macdonald, a labourer, aged 31, for a criminal assault on a girl of ten years, has also been commuted to imprisonment for life. He, like Moore," will be flogged. N.S.W. POLITICS. Sydney, October 22. The Budget shows the revenue to be £16,973,000, and the expenditure £17,000,000. The estimated revenue .for the current year is £17,397,000, and the estimated expenditure £17,----870,000. Taxation will be increased by £270,000. (Received October 23, 9.15 a.m.) WHEAT ESTIMATE. Sydney. October 23. The Herald preliminary estimate of the wheat crop is an average of ten bushels. It adds that any estimate at this stage is problematical, everything depending on the rainfall for the next few weeks. THE LAST APPEAL. The High Court granted leave to appeal to the Privy Council in the Sugar Co.'s case. THE NEW HEBRIDES. The Rev. Mr Gillan, a New Hebrides missionary, reiterates that the dual control of the group is unsatisfactory. Britishers, he says, observe the law, and the majority of _ the French residents do not, and conthru** to sell grog and fire-arms to the natives. (Received Oct. 23, 10.15 a.m.) FRUITGROWERS' CONFERENCE. Sydney, October 23. The figures presented at the opening of the Australasian Fruitgrowers' Conference show that since 1901 the area of New South Wales orchards has decreased by 1000 acres and the export of fruit lias largely decreased. Mr McKee, one of the New Zealand delegates, stated that during the past four years the Dominion's fruit area had increased by 7000 acres, and was now 35,000 acres. AN ELECTION PETITION. Brisbane, October 23. Mr Mitchell has filed a petition against Mr Corser's return, claiming that he (Mitchell) received a majority of lawful votes. OBITUARIES. The death has occurred of Mr E. J. Finch, formerly a manager of the Bank of New 'South Wales in New Zealand. Melbourne, October 23. The death is announced of Father AVilliam King, of the Redemptorist Monastery at Bailarat. He is also well know nin New Zealand. SHIPPING NEWS. Sydney, October 23. Arrived —Kurow, from Westport; Pioneer, from Wellington. The Council has passed more drastic amendments to the Gas Bill, including one to the effect that the Bill is not to become operative till May next, and another raising the maximum selling price from 3s 3d to 3s 6'd per 1000 ft,