AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14906, 3 February 1912, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By T*l*.tT*fih.—Preo» AuwUUon.—'•Ovpjnljht. HOT WEATHER IN MELBOURNE. (Received February 2, 7.55 p.m.) Melbourne, February 2. The weather is sweltering. In the shade the thermometer stands at 105. The heat is distressing for the cricketers. Some factories were compelled to close down at noon owing to the heat. A MILLIONAIRE TWICE OVER. Sydney, February 2. Probate has been granted in the will of the late W. P. Hall. The value of his New South Wales estate was sworn at £2,311,000. AUSTRALIA AND THE PRINCE. Melbourne, February 2. Mr. Fisher is against asking the Prince of Wales to visit Australia as a military officer. He says that any invitation will j be extended to him as Prince. ; '< FEDERAL CUSTOMS REVENUE. \ Melbourne, February 2. The Federal Customs revenue for the last seven months increased by £936,138, compared with the same period of the previous year. NO SHEARING BY CONTRACT. Sydney, February 2. The Australian Workers' Union announced that in the ballots throughout the Commonwealth on the question of contract shearing, the voting was 23,916 against and 2478 for contracts A majority Mas also cast against the proposal for four runs of work per day, with two runs on Saturday. STRIKE OF STATE WORKERS. Sydney, February 2. Two hundred day labourers employed in the Public Works Department struck for an increase of a shilling a day.