AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14981, 29 April 1909, Page 7

AUSTRALIA.

United Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright. LIEUTENANT SHACKLETON. x SYDNEY, April 28. Lieutenant Shackleton and Professor David had an enthusiastic reception at the annual dinner of the Royal Society of New South Wales. . THE WILLIS STABBING CASE. In connection with the Willis mystery, a well-known lawyer engaged in the defence of Daley in an alleged extortion case, received an anonymous threatening letter. Amongst tho warnings was one that a strong push was against him. The lawyer ignored the letter. There axe no developments in - the Willis case. The police aro unable to secure ah interview with Willis on the ground tljat he must be kept, quiet for a few days. NEW CALEDONIA NICKEL MINES. A batch of 199 Javanese coolies have arrived en route for the New Caledonia nickel mines. THE WEEWAA MURDER.

At the trial of the youth Williams for tho murder of Johnston at Weewaa, accused made a statement that he was working for Johnston and quarrelled with him. Johnston struck him, and on the spur of the 'moment accused picked up a hammor and struck and killed Johnston, and sank the body in the river. Ho afterwards sold Johnston's horses and waggon. Tho 'jury disagreed. (On December 22 the body of a man was found in tho Namos River at Weewaa, with the brake-block of a waggon attached. There was a ghastly wound in the head. The body was identified as that of a travelling saddler, named Johnston, who, with a companion, a youth of eighteen, passed, through Weewaa in a two-hoTso waggonette at the end of November. Subsequently Johnston's companion returned alone, sold the turn-out, and then disappeared. In tho meantime, the police visited a camp seven miles up tho river, and found a quantity of Johnston's belongings. There wore two beds, and tho leaves under the head of one were saturated with blood. A recent fresh in the river carried the body to where it was found. Williams was arrested and charged with tho crime.) SEIZURE OF OPIUM. ■ SYDNEY, April 28. Tho Customs seized 200 tins of opium on the steamer Empire, concealed in falso bottomed trunks. Three Chinese have been arrested. YACHT MISSING. "MELBOURNE. April 28. The yacht Lily, with , five men aboard, is missing. ( It is feared that she foundered in Sunday's gale. LAND SALE. Horsfall's famous Widgiewa ©state has been sold to Falkiner and Sons for £250,000. This includes the sheep. ' VICTORIAN LIVE STOCK. For the year ended March, the cattle in Victoria decreased by'268,000, the dairy heVds losing 100,000 cows; shpep decreased 160,000, and pigs 31,600. The decreases are attributed to tho bad season.