AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10422, 21 April 1897, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.—Electric Telecrajih.-CopjtighK THE DROUGHT. Sydney, April 20. TIIK drought grows inoro severe daily and the prospects are becoming desperate. Feed is especially scarce in the dairying districts, 'and in the back country sheep are perishing by hundreds. As Che lambing season is just approaching it will be almosb impossible to save any lambs, as they will have to be sacrificed to save the ewes. Mklboorne, April 20. The long-continued drought is playing sad havoc with the stock and crops, especially in the Riverina district,

LIGHT RAILWAAS. Melbourne, April 20. The Government aro calling for tenders or (he construction of a narrow-gauge railway from Wangaratta to iWhitfield, a distance of thirty miles. This is the first of a number advocated by the Railway Committee RAINFALL IN FIJI. Sydney, April 20. Adrices from Fiji state that heavy rains hare fallen, and the drought broken up. HOLIDAY TRAFFIC. Sydney, April 20. Two hundred and twenty thousand people wore carried on the tramways yesterday, the largest) number carried eince the tramways were built. THE SYDNEY TRAGEDY. Sydney, April 20. Iα connection with the murder of the Swedish sailor, it appears that Larsen and Johnson quarrelled aver a question as U who is the better seaman. They had bee» drinking. FOUR MEN DROWNED. Melbourne, April 20. At Morniogton Regatta in tho fisherraen'l race a boat containing fire men capsized. Pour of the crew, Hooper, Nicholas, Moore, and Sievers, were drowned. The fifth wo? rescued in an exhauster! condition. IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE. Melbodf.sk, April 20. Speaking with reference to the repeated assertions in tho press that the commutation of the death sentence to imprisonment for life was equivalent to 20 years, the Solicitor-General states that tho assumption is wrong. Although criminals had been released after serving long periods where sentenced for life, it was nob the intention of the Administration to follow this cours* in Phillips' case. The Executive are determined to mark their sense of the enormity of Phillips' crime by imprisonment fo> the term of his natural life.

UNVEILING A STATUE. Sydney, April 20. The Governor to-day unveiled in Hyde Park a life-size bronze statue of the late Hon. W. B. Dalley, which was raised bj public subscription. There was a largo gathering, and speeches were made eulogising the late statesman. EIGHT-HOUKS MOVEMENT. Melbourne, April 19. The Eight-hour Demonstration on Satur day was highly successful. The weatha was glorious, mid tho Societies were largely represented. BAND COMPETITION. Melbourne, April 20. The main feature of the Druids' Easter Gala is the band*' competition, fourteen bands have entered, including one from Invercargill (New Zealand), one from Sydney, and ono from Tasmania. The New Zealand Band was greatly applauded for selections from " Lombardi." The contest! concludes to-morrow night. INTERCOLONIAL. CRICKET. Brisbane, April 19. An intercolonial cricket match, Queensland v. New South Wales, began on Satur. day. In the first inning* the home team made 180. The New South Wales eleven have lost four wickets tor 289. Later. New South Wales won by an innings and 101 runs. New South Wales' first innings dosed for 354, Pye 166, Evers 66. Queensland, in their second innings, only made 73, Howe 27. CYCLING. Mklbournk, April 19. At the cycling meeting on Saturday the Mile International Scratch Race resulted: Walne, lj Megson, 2; Martin, 3. Time, 2m. 55 3-03. Melbourne, April 20. The Anniversary Wheel Race resulted :— Body, the ex-New Zealander, 80yds, 1;, Steveneon, 100 yds, 2; Barker, 140 yds, 3 There was a grand finish. Time, 4m 40 255.