AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10035, 23 January 1896, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.—Electric Telegraph,— THE HEAT WAVE. Sydney, January 22. At Bourke, to-day, it was 120 in the shade. Two more deaths are recorded from heat. At Brewerrina the thermometer registered 117 to-day, and it was 109 at midnight Several deaths have taken place. DYNAMITE EXPLOSION. Sydney, January 22. Dynamite in a shed near Rich's store exploded. The shed was wrecked and the roof blown one hundred feet in the air. A number of persons working in the vicinity were knocked off their feet, but none seriously injured. The shock was immediately followed by a downpour of rain and a fierce wind, which only lasted five minutes. A number of trees and building! were damaged. The explosion is supposed to hare been caused by the heat. THE RABBIT PEST. Melbourne, January 22. In consequence of the alarming spread of rabbits, and complaints made of the ineffectual administration of tho Destruction Act, the Government have appointod 20 inspectors dispensed with under tho retrenchment scheme. Sixty police officers who at present are acting as inspectors are also paid a bonus as an inducement to give special attention to the destruction ol tho post. The Minister of Lands is asking Parliament to vote a sum of £50,000 to be lent to Shire Councils at 3 per cent, for the purchase of wire netting to prevent the spread of bunny.

' PROPOSED SMELTING WORKS. Sydney, January 22. Thero seems soms probability of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company establish' ing smolting works at Old Port, Waratab, a Bite on tbe Hunter River. BANK DIVIDEND. Perth, January 22. At the half-yearly meeting of the Western Australian Bank, a dividend at the rate of 17$ per cent, was declared, and a 5 per cent, bonus was voted on all salaries. The directors propose to increase the capital by the issue of fresh shares. MR. W. P. REEVES. Brisbane, January 22. In the course of an interview, the Hon. W. P. Reeves said the Cable Conference had done good work, bub tho question of the amount of subsidy would probably require further consideration. He spoke hopefully of the state of New Zealand finances, and of the prospects of the mining industry. SENSATIONAL LEAP PROM A TRAIN. Hobakt, January 22. A sensational leap from the mail train running between Hobart and Launceston was made by a young girl named Brown, travelling in a compartment with Davidson, member of a firm of engineers. The girl fell asleep. Davidson alleges he took a nip of cough mixture containing peppormint and aniseed. The girl awoke and believed the smell to be that) of chloroform and tried to attract the attention of the passengers of the next compartment. Failing to do so she then dropped from tha window. Tho girl was found uninjured except a few bruises, Davidson was taken into custody, but it is gcnorally believed alio was labouring under an hallucination. A CURIOUS CASE. Adelaide, January 22. The authorities are investigating a strange case of alleged illegal detention of a Chinese girl aged sixteen by one of her own countrymen. Some neighbours climbed on the roof a house, and through the skylight saw the girl almost naked and in a filthy condition. The police were informed, and broke into the house. Th« girl stated she had been detained against her will in an attic for eleven months. Tin Chinaman's version is that the girl came to the colony with a Chinese woman, who returned to China, and it was subsequently found necessary to restrict tho girl's liberty, A MINING SENSATION. Coolgardie, January 22. The sale of the London mine was completed yesterday, when a cheque for £27,000 was paid to the lucky prospectors, who had already received a deposit of £30,000. Last night after the payment Davies, one of prospectors, was garrotted and robbed of bank receipts of the value of £30,000. A STEAMER AGROUND. Sydney, January 22. The steam collier Aldinga struck th« Bellambe reef at daybreak, and became a total wreck. The crew are safe. Later. The steamer Aldinga ran ashore in a dense fog. It is thought she must have mistook; tbe bearings, . > ~ • •■ KILLED BY LIGHTNING. , ~ Sydney, January 22. Mr. Mitchell, a farmer at Orange, and two sons were killed' b,y lightning while taking tea. ' \"; ' ,'■'.>'. , V''.■:.'.VH^'V"./ • ■/>, Liter. ' .'The'; two Mitchell boys are nob dead/ I though seriously injured. _;,;,