AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12210, 4 March 1903, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. % ; • •" MURDER OF MALAYS. * ' <•" > Perth, March ' 3. ; The police at Port Cunningham' report that a party ,of four divers went ashore and : only ■ one returned. . Subsequently the survivor stated that one of the party killed the two others, Malays, whose bodies were 're* covered with a stick knife beside them. . Th« murderer escaped to the bush. ' -* KILLED BY A FALLING TREE. ; BRISBANE, March 3. During a storm at' Booreondarra statioi a tree was blown across a tent, killing on# man and injuring eight others. w- - * . THE TOTALISATOR. ;V , : v' Stonet, . March B.:' The New South Wales aid . Victoria* Methodist : Conference • adopted resolutions opposing the introduction of the totalizator.;" •..* ■ THE (GOLD DISCOVERY. ] Adelaide, March' 3. Excitement continues in regard to the Art", tunga gold find, 1 which is heightened by th® reported discovery of two new' 15in reefgg showing gold freely. ~ Many are leaving for the field, including a number of well-known mining men. Several earlier claims are stated to be giving , rich ; returns. : Prospectors: are warned of the necessity of being welll equipped and financed owing.to the distant* and difficulty of access and the scarcity </ Water and food. NEW ZEALAND'S CONDITION. SrDNEY, • March 3. Railway Commissioner Fehon. expresses himself as having ; been struck ; during hif visit by the prosperous condition of the pastoral, agricultural, and mineral industries of New Zealand. The railways were working up to a high standard, and there was a general appearance of prosperity, heightened by the absence of groups of unemployed. ; COLONIAL FINANCE. ■» Sidney, March 3. , ■ ■ The Daily Telegraph, commenting on t Si* Joseph Ward's suggestion that Australia" and New Zealand should'band together toprevent the forcing down of their' stocks, says that, however unconsciously, Sir Joseph is affirming' a ' practical federal relationship, arid admits an independence which is certainly not to be inferred j from - New Zealand's general political attitude towards Federation. That New Zealand would be affected by Australian financial conditions could have been predicted at any time. This is what has happened. When Australian credit was good so' was that of New Zealand. Now that it is bad New Zealand finds herself within the sphere of frost. ' ' SIR JOSEPH WARD. * Melbourne, March 3, Sir Joseph Ward entertained at luncheon Sir E. Barton, the Victorian Premier, and the Lord ■ Mayor of Melbourne. A repre- ■ sentative gathering was present.. The Australian Club entertained Sir Joseph Ward at dinner, w. Representatives ot all the - steamship services were present. His health was cordially proposed. ITRADE OF.- NEW SOUTH WALES. | (Received March A 12.47 a.m.) S'itdnet, March 3, p-r l -' r *§£" \S The imports ot • New Sonth Wales las! year were valued at £23,974,000, and thft exports a* £23,554,000.; These figures; include the New 5 Zealand imports; ; valued at £1,195,000, and exports valued at £680,000. i• 1 *