AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13879, 13 October 1908, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

—— -4ft» ' ' SUICIDE BY FIR]A tekkiblts method of death was chose, by Jane Elizabeth Russell, widow, 68 %*-, of age, who committed suicide a-' \fat-* * (Vic), a few days ago. She is believS to have poured a bottle of kerosene <, ~~ her hair and clothing and then delibeT ately to have set fire to herself. \r ~ Russell was an old age pensioner, and Cat Malvern, where she rented two from Mrs. Mary Hatherall. Mrs. Hatherall states that she noticed Mrs. Russell in th yard belonging to the house. The old woman'! manner seemed strange, and Mrs. Hathe all was about to' speak to her, wheat'ther surprise Mrs. Russell was suddenly en veloped in flames, which appeared to coma from her hair and clothing. After solicit* ing help from a neighbour, Mrs. Hatheral' quickly obtained a blanket, with which she extinguished the flames, but not before Mrs. Russell had been dreadfully burned about th© body, and her clothing nearl all consumed. An empty bottle,, which ' had contained kerosene, was subsequently found in the yard, and it is surmised that Mrs. Russell had poured the contents over her clothing and hair, and then applied a lighted match. .No reason has been ascertained why the woman should have committed suicide in so dreadful a, manner.

SWAGMAN'S FEARFUL DEATH. Early last week a lad on McCann's seU* tion, 11 miles from Nirrabri (N.S.W.)* went into a paddock, and noticed a burning tree, which had fallen during tf night. Or closer inspection, he discovered the charred remains of a man, a portion of the lower limbs and some burnt clothing and boots protruding from the ashes. All the upper portion of the body, almost down to the boot-tops, nad been consumed by the fire. The name of the deceased is - unknown, and there are no means of identification visible. It is surmised that deceased, who was apparently a swagm«acamped at the foot of the tree and lit a fire for warmth, and then went to 3 p. and during the night the fire burnt through the trunk of the tree, which must hare fallen on and burnt the sleeping man. ■.. -:-■■ .- -■■--'■r ° • GIRL MASQUERADING AS A MAS. The Melbourne police are searching for a girl "named Adelaide Maude Lyons, aged? 16, who is somewhere about the city masquerading in man's clothing. The warrant, issued at the instance of her mother, charges the girl with vagrancy,-but she is ' also wanted by the police for the larceny of the clothing she is wearing, which is the property of Mr. William H. Cole, a young dentist. Adelaide Lyons, a wellgrown, good-looking girl, sft 6in high, was a fortnight age sent by -her mother from her home in. Prahran, to go to work at th« rooms oi a dressmaker. She did not put in an appearance there, and as ; she did not return home her mother took out a warrant • oi- her apprehension. On Saturday -seek, Mr. Cole, on. going to his rooms,, missed a suit of clothes, with boots and hat, and on looking around was amazed to find that * feminine "rig out" complete, including a luxuriant crop of lonjr hair, had been left in exchange. He reported tie matter to the police. It was thereupon discovered that the raiment, hair, etc., under Mr. Coles' bed, were what Miss Lyons had worn. Further investigation led to the discovery that on Saturday afternoon a "young man," who to the practised eye of the barber was most assuredly and unmistakably " a girl," had come in and had her roughly shorn hair artistically trim ■._■ like a man's. In fact, she made '" . ■•- plorable blunder when asked how she wanted it cut of saying " like a man's.' Why she was " togged up" like a man was none of the barber* business. He thought she was some giddy girl having some fun of hei. own, =•> he cut her hair, and sl.e went away. The police have sot- yet located the masqnerader.

. - ■ — „ — , _ .;.„. UNIQUE MOTOR TRIP. A motor party "has just arrived is Syd« ney after a very interesting trip. The parly comprised 1 Mr. F. A. Hawley, one £ of the English directors of the South Australian Land, Mortgage, and Agency Company, Limited, Mr. W. J. Bennett, Australian manager, Mr. J. H. Stewart, manaI ger of Gordon Downs Station, and Mr. Weaver, of: the firm oi Schofield, Goodsell, and Weaver. The tri|> was organised for the purpose of inspecting the company's stations in Queensland, and the party left Sydney about three months ago, travelling by motor to Brisbane, via the northern; rivers. From Brisbane they took the train to Longreach, and motored from there- to Kamilaroi Station, which is about 120 miles from the gulf. Motoring back to Longreacb, they entrained to Gordon Downs, near Reynold, then to Soma,, v.: Brisbane, Leaving Roma they again toot to the motor, and travelled through Charleville, Cimnamulla, and Bourke to Nyngan. Ore of the unique experiences of the trip) was a race with an emu along the railway line for three mile*;, the motor at the time going at the rate of 25 miles an hour. They also had a run -with a kangaroo under similar conditions for about a . mile, but the marsupial could not hop as •■»■■■ ' , fast as the motor. AN AUSTRALIAN MARATHON. At a meeting of the New South Wal« A. A. A. a letter was received from Mr. F. W. E. Bush, 01 Nowra, with reference to the-proposal to hold an Australian Marathon - (25 miles) at Nowra. on April 3, 1909, -in conjunction with a whole daj'.amateur sports meeting. It is proposed to give trophies valued at £25 for first, £10 second, £3 third, and a sprig in bronze to all finishing the distance.