AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14145, 21 August 1909, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— WIFE MURDER. (Received August 21, 1 a.m.) Sydney, August 20. A MAN named Selby, residing at Chippendale, quarrelled with his wife to-day, and shot her dead, firing five revolver shots into her head and chest. He then cut his throat with a bread knife, his condition being critical. SOMETHING LIKE HAIL. (Received August 21, 12.35 a.m.) Sydney, August 20.' A violent hailstorm occurred at Broken Hill to-day.. The hail was three inches in circumference, some pieces weighing half a pound. CREEP IN A MINE. IiOCKHAMPTON, August 20. An extensive creep has occurred in an open cutting in the Mount Morgan mine. All work has been stopped in the vicinity. THE POTATO DISEASE. Hodaf.t, August 20. Mr. T. Kirk, New Zealand Government biologist has pronounced a sample of potatoes examined as infested with Irish blight, and declared it was possible to control, but not to eradicate, if it once obtained a foothold. EARTH TREMORS. Sydney, August 20. A pronounced earth tremor was recorded at the Observatory on Wednesday, the series of seismic waves extending from 10.44 to 11.55 in the forenoon. PREVALENCE OF INFANTICIDE. Sydney, August 20. The City Coroner, in making recommendations for coping with the prevalence of infanticide, describes it as a very serious disease in the body politic, calling . for drastic remedy. He declares that the limitation of families is almost entirely confined to persons living in easy circumstances. The avoidance of the cares of maternity, excessive desire for social gaiety, and the mode of life generally, are the chief causes of small families. He adds : "If the present practice continues, the whole political control of the State must eventually fall into the hands of the working classes. In my opinion, no State can be prosperous, in the widest acceptance of the term, if ruled by.one class alone."-