AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12698, 29 October 1904, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraphl\«ss Association.'—:-?ighL A BOY ELECTROCUTED. Sydney, October 28. A bot who was assisting at the electa: io light station, touched a live wire t and received a- charge of 5500 volts. The shook killed him, I'AXES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA; Adelaide, October 28, The Treasurer will submit his taxation; proposals on Tuesday. He will provide for raising the land tax to three farthings is: the £ on estates up to 62,000, and threehalfpence above that amount. Ha fixes income, exemption permanently at £150. and imposes a tax of 4£d on incomes derived from personal- exertion up to £800, and 7d above that amount. The tax on. -incomes from property up to £800 is to be v 9d, and above that Is l|d. ■

ROBBERY AT A POLICE STATION. , Sydney, October 28. ■ Senior-Constable Ferguson, who wis in charge of the safe at Tumbeiumba police, station in August last, -when' specie ! disappeared, has been committed for trial on the charge of stealing the ■'' gold. [The owner of the gold, which , was valued at £600, staged that after placing it in the strongroom at the policy station, he handed the key to tlio" constable in charge to save the constable the trouble of. ■ sending to him When others wished to use the safe. The constable said he carried the key in a pocket on the inside of his waistcoat, and when it was asked for it was missing.] RABBIT DESTRUCTION BY DISEASE. , Sydney, October 28. Yesterday »■ conference of the Pastures ' . Protection. Boards approved ' of . the , proposal to exterminate rabbits by the introduction of disease fatal to them and ' innocuous to other animals and human beings, under the supervision, of a competent bacteriologist. Instead ,of _' paying- '> £5000, or any «imount decided upon, 'to an experimenter, the money is to be devoted to the expense of a Commission,, composed of an equal number of sder-tiste ; „ and practical past*H | «&st:?>, _ JSx'iiansfciv* • / tests are to be made,

■'";'. ■'. DISTRESS AT NEWCASTLE. ." Sydney, October 28, .'.".; There is cinch distress ha. the NeW'jaslfo < district, owing to the slackness of Lie coal' trade.'... : '"■. y ■ "'' NEW , SOUTH ' WALES POLITICS- " :. Sydney, October 28. , In the Assembly the' Premier has ex- i"' plained the State Bank BiJi. It provides for the amalgamation of tfw> Government'* savings banks. The whole of the com* ' bined funds amount to £13,000,000. pie State Bank will administer th<> Advances to Settlers Fund. The Premier disclaimed that the measure had cay Socialistic fees* dency, and said the making of advance ■ to farmers under the scheme would !»*;■« ! prove the conditions of living in. the coan.-' : try, and save the fanners from £30,000 to £40,000 a year in interest.

j THE CATHOLIC CONGRESS. I Melsovrns, October 28. i The Catholic Congress has carried aw« 1 solution of sympathy with the religious communities of France in 'the terrible .per-; ■ s«cution they are being subjected to -u [the hands of the Government. j BENAI.LA BOMS OUTRAGE. ' ' \-.-\ MEtBotTENE, 1 . October 28. ; , Charles Maitland has 'been sentenced t<s five years', penal servitude, with periods of solitary confinement;; .for the Ueaalla ■ bomb outrage/ ■■' ' ' ' {The prisoner Maitland wag annoyed With a Mr,. Shields and his. family because- they had advised their servant girl not'to become his sweetheart He nude three bombs of Wasting powder placed in leinouade bottles.- fie tfem bomb through , the -window of th« servant girl's bedroom/ and another through." the, window of the room occupied by Mr. Shields.]