AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11842, 20 December 1901, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— ' j THE HEAT WAVE EST AUSTRALIA. Sydney, December 19- .} The thermometer in the city ' has fallen amongst the nineties, but it is still very high in the country. Disastrous 'bush' fires are J ~\ raging in many districts, and there has beta , * ; 1 | much destruction of grass and fencing and - ] damage to wheat and fruit crops. AT num- 4"V;c| ber of settlers have been burned out. 1 ■* Several cases of heat apoplexy, one fatal, are reported in the country. 1 . ' ' " \i i:;;..Bßisn.iNE, December 19.. > A man dropped dead from heat apoplexy at Ipswich, and another is in a serious condition. " * . SYDNEY ELECTRIC CARS. Sydney, December 19. . The electric tramlines have been openel for traffic in Pitt and Castlereagh Streets.-. 1 ' The lines are now along the four main arter-' - sics of the city, and the additions aggravate the already badly congested vehicular and pedestrian traffic. POSTAGE TO THE COOK ISLANDS.. Melbourne, December 19. "s The Postal Department: announces ■ thai as Cook Islands have been annexed to New;. Zealand postal matter' will now be sent ta' the islands at the same rates as to Nf-w Z'ea-' land. • ' , CONTRACT FOR BICYCLES. Melbourne, December 19. Mr. Drake, the Federal General, has accepted the tender of the' Beeston-Humber agency for the supply of' bicycles for the Postal Department, for five.' years, throughout the Commonwealth. | THE THEFT OF STOCK. Sydney, December 19. \ Three other men have beeb committed for 1 trial in connection with the theft of Hordem's Retford Park stock. - • STRIKE OF STREET SWEEPERS. . Sydney, December 19. \ • Thirty. lads employed 'on l the city streets - as sweepers have struck for increased wages. THE NEW SOUTH WALES LOAN. : (Received December 20, 1.7 a.m.) Sydney, December 19. ' ■ . : The Assembly is holding protracted sit-'. tings, in view of the Christmas sojournment to-morrow. In reply to a question as to whether he had noticed a'cable stating that the . New Zealand Treasurer referred to the floating of the New Zealand loan as very satisfactory considering that £2,000,000 of the New South Wales loan were still unplaced, the Premier said' there was no truth whatever in the statement that £2,000,000 were unplaced. The New South Wales Government did placa £4,000,0f)0 on the. market, which were taken ,up with great success. They had not placed, and did not intend to place, ', another loan on the London market at? 1 present, as they could get all the money required locally. ' ni —