AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10410, 7 April 1897, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.—Copyright DROUHHT IN WEST AUSTALIA. Perth, April 6. ' The drought is very severe in the northwest. There has been no summer rain since February, 1892, and with the exception of fair winter rain in 1894, nothing of consequence for the last five years. Stool is suffering severely. Squatters are da manding a remission of their rente.

PETITION FOR REPRIEVE OF PHILIPS.

Melbourne, April 6.

Over fifty thousand signatures have been attached to the petition in favour of the reprieve of Philips. The Executive consider the matter to-morrow.

NEW GUINEA MISSIONS. Sydney, April 6, Sir William Macgregor's annual report on New Guinea says ib is becoming an anxious consideration that the missions do not extend their stations inland. At' the present rate of expansion it will take the London Missionary Society at least two or three generations to occupy their hinterland without some increase in strength. The Anglican Mission cannot do so within a period so near as to make it possible to be of any practical interest to those living. The complete evangelisation of the tribes of New Gninea appears a long way off, but even constituted as at present the missions contribute powerfully to the settlement and moral advance of the country. . THE RONTGEN RAYS. Sydney, April 6. Mr. Filmer, electrical engineer at Newcastle, has carried his experiments with tba Rontgen rays to such perfection that he has obtained perfect radiographs of all. th« interior organs of a mouse. He claimi that this can bo applied with equal success to the human body. THE BROKEN HILL MURDER. Sydney, April 6. Five persons charged with the murder ol Anderson at Broken Hill were acquitted by ' order of the Judge who held there was no direct evidence against them. THE CRADDOCK AFFAIR. Sydney, April 6. Craddock has been handed over to the Naval authorities to be court-martialled. [The Australian Star (Sydney) of March 31, referring to the case of AssistantPaymaster Craddock, says:—"A young and rather well-known naval'officer is just now being very anxiously sought by the police.' The missing officer is Edgar George Craddock, who held the position of assishint paymaster on H.M.s. Katoomba. The warrant on which lie is wanted charges him with misappropriation of funds. The missing paymaster was about 23 years of age, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, and of slight build. He moved in religious circles, and is said to have contemplated taking holy orders."]