AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14250, 22 December 1909, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By TelegTtph.— Association—Copyright ANOTHER GOLD * BUSH. ' ~ Sydney, December 21. A rich reef has been discovered in Gerard's Creek, Tenterfield, on the Queensland border. A dish yielded over 2oz of gold. Extensive pegging out is in progress. INTER-STATE CRICKET. Adelaide, December 21. The match between New South Wales and South Australia was continued yesterday. South Australia's first innings closed for 397. Hill made 205 by excellent, , chanceless, cricket; L., R. , Hill 25, ; O'Connor 24, and Whitty 23. New South Wales, in a minority of 213 on the , first innings scores, have lost four wickets for 145 runs in the second innings, E. Waddy j 31, Bardsley 31, Diamond (not out) 35, Barnes (not out) 25. (Received December 22, 12.55 a.m.) . Adelaide, December 21. New South Wales' second innings to-. talled 219 (Barnes 46, and Diamond 47). Bowling for South Australia, . Crawford took eix wickets for 63, and Whitty three for 42. THE WHEAT HARVEST. Sydney, December 21. The Government statistician, at midharvest, estimated, the wheat yield at 25,600,000 bushels, an average of slightly over 14 bushels to the acre. EDEN'S NARROW . ESCAPE. V " Sydney, December t ' 21;' A survey disclosed that the s.s. Eden . had a very narrow escape' .from' destruc- , tion. Her whole forefoot was turned' ' right over and all the plates in the stern were fractured. The accident is attributed to an unusually strong set of the current carrying her out of her course. HOT WEATHER. i Sydney, December 21. i i-. The weather is very hot, and the drought is beginning to be severely felt in some districts. ' Melbourne, December 21. " Great heat is being experienced throughout the State. Yesterday the thermometer registered 106deg. in the shade.

WEES NEAR MELBOURNE. Melbourne, December 21. Fires swept out a block of 30 weatherboard dwellings and shops in Verdon, Parker, and Railway Streets, Williams- > town. The blaze spread with tremendous rapidity, and the occupants, mostly workmen, saved very little. , There were some narrow escapes from death. Tho damage is estimated at from £10,000 to £12,000. Another fire destroyed a children's convalescent home at Hampton, near » Brighton. ' STEAMER'S BUNKERS ABLAZE. ' ; Melbourne, December 21. ■ The steamer Ardgoyfe, from Bahia Blanca, had a thrilling experience for a maiden voyage. On November 16 a fire was discovered in the bunkers, and was • not got under until after 15 days' continuous • hard work. Three hundred tons : of 1 coal were burned or jettisoned. The vessel is undamaged. •/ THE NEWCASTLE TRAGEDY. ; Sydney, December 21. The jury found Mrs. Street not guilty of the murder of Healy, who was found dead beside her on July 8, the ground of acquittal being temporary insanity. . \ [The Newcastle police received a letter on July 9 stating that ' Healy and Mrs. Street were going to die together, and • on entering the house found Healy dead. As they entered Mrs. Street put a revolved to her ear, but it missed fire. She had taken chlorodyne, but not in a dangerous quantity. She stated * that i Healy ( had shot himself and that she intended to do the same, but had not the courage. Mrs. Street, who had five children, had left her husband, while Healy also lived apart from his wife.] •