AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10412, 9 April 1897, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Pf ess Association.—Electric Telegraph.—Copyright THE WRECK OF THE MYRTLE. Thobsday Island, April 8. No lives were lost in the wreck of the schooner Myrtle on Barrier Reef. The steamer Warrego took a number of the passengers and crew off a small island where they had taken refuge, and rescued the remainder, excepting the mate and a seaman, who refused to leave the wreck, and brought them all to Thursday Island. The paasen* gers included a number of sick Now Guinea miners. ' The Myrtle struck the reef on the 4th insb. THE MELBOURNE MURDERER. Melbourne, April 8. The statement published by the preet that Phillips' sentence had been commuted to 20 years' imprisonment prores to b< premature. Ib transpires that the Cabined considered the case yesterday, bub decided, owing to the absence of two Ministers, to postpone their final decision for a week. A; the result of the Judge's remarks al Phillipe'e trial, a special audit of Brady'i accounts was made to ascertain the truth oi otherwise of Brady's statement that Phillips embezzled £20. The examination showed a shortage of £34 in Brady's cash, Deducting the £20 which it is alleged that Phillips took, there remains £14 unar> counted for. The books disclosed that it must have disappeared on the day of the murder. Mr. Cooper states that) he has perfect confidence in Brady's honesty, and doel nob believe he had a penny of the missing money.

A NAVAL OFFICER SENTENCED,. Sidney, April 8.

A court martial sab to-day to hear the charge agnineb Craddock of embezzling £2020, stealing £343, making a falee entry, and desertion from his ship. He pleaded guilty, and in a lengthy statement to the court said that a few months ago he became infatuated with the lady who was novr his wife, and he was distracted by the know. led?e that he waa very shortly to have to leave the Australian station and be covered from the lady. On a sudden impulse he took the money. His mind was practically anhinged through brooding, and he pleaded strongly for a chance to redeem his character. He was found guilty, and sentenced to three years, and dismissed the servict' with disgrace. ARREST OF A BANK CLERK. Melboobne, April 8. The police have received information that a man, travelling under the name of Bruce, was arrested on the arrival of the Warrimoo at Vancouver. He ia supposed to be identical with Chas. Thomas Adair, a teller at the Charters Towere (Queensland) Branch Bank of Australasia. At the beginning of March be obtained a fortnight's holiday, and ab the expiration of the holiday a spurious telegram, which it was subsequently ascertained had been arranged to be forwarded after the Warrimoo sailed, wae received from Melbourne, stating that the head office had extended his leave. Aα

examination of the books disclosed defalcations amonuting to £2000.

WEST AUSTRALIAN TARIFF.

Perth, April 8. It is stated that the Government will, next seeeion, introduce a Tariff Amending Bill giving a free breakfast table, including b»eon, butter, cheese, hams, preserved meats, and egijs. Wheat will also be placed on the free list, but the duty on flour wijl nob be remitted. AUSTRALIAN WEATHER. Sydney, April 8. For this time of the yoar unprecedentedl) dry weather prevails throughout the country. In many districts water is running short, and stock and crops are suffering. Mr. Wraggd has arranged to establish a temporary observatory at Mount Kosciusko. Hβ expects thia will add greatly to tin success of weather forecasting. THE OROTAVA. Sydney, April 8. The Orotava was docked here. The damage was found to be very slight), only a few plates being buckled. A NATIVE SHOT DEAD. Perth, April 8. A notorious native desperado known as Pigeon, who Was implicated in the recent) murder of a settler named Jasper, was shot dead by the police.