AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

TWO MEN FATALLY SHOT. STRANGE BRISBANE AFFAIR, -r By Telegraph— Associations-Copyright. Brisbane, March 20. -: A mysterious tragedy is reported from* a boardinghouse in Sydney Street, two new arrivals, named Arthur Dickenson and A. C. Murdoch being fatally shot. Another boarder, while talking., to Dickenson on the verandah, noticed blood on the latter's neck, and then saw Murdock at the other end of the verandahloading a gun. He proceeded to inform, the police, and meanwhile heard the report of a grin. Murdock was later found shot in tha face, both he and Dickenson being dead.,' No reason can be discovered for -ffio crime. ...,.-,.., Dickenson arrived from England a week ago, and Murdock had been in the-house two days. So far as is Known, the two had not spoken to each other previously. LABOTJB SPLIT AVOIDED. PREMIER'S FIRM STAND. Sydney; March 20. A serious split in the Labour Party., of New South Wales was narrowly averted at a caucus meeting yesterday. Mr. ,P. J. Minahan moved that Mr. Flowers (vicepresident of the Executive Council) should not be appointed Minister for Health.""" A bitter sectarian debate at once commenced, but Mr. Holmah ' (Preini.erV promptly stopped the discussion, threatening to resign if the motion were carried; He declared the Ministry had the sole rights of administration. :•■ - ■ ■ -> •'•' The motion was finally defeated by'a two to one majority. SYDNEY STBEET OXEANINfi..^ HOW THE COST HAS' RISEN.' '"' Sydney,' March' 20.' The town clerk reported to the,council last night that the cost- of cleaning Sydney had risen from £38,658 .in , 1905, :to £100,634 in 1913. The mileage of the streets had increased only from 113 to 134, and it was the increases, in wages that had been largely responsible... Alder, men described the statement as "Stag* gerer."

AFFRAY AT SYDNEY; ■ CAPITAL SENTENCE IMPOSED. - (Received March 20. 9.50 'p.m..) Sydney, March-20. * On February 11, a shooting "affray occurred in the Domain. A footpad snatched a lady's bag, and two men attempted to capture him. One was shot in the head and the other in the stomach, The latter, with conspicuous bravery, continued. the chase, and succeeded in bringing his assailant (named Ellis) to the ground, where he held him until assistance arrived. ' Ellis was tried to-day found guilty,' and sentenced to death. He was recommended to mercy on- account of his youth. LORD DENMAN'S RESIGNATION (Received March 20. 9.50 p.m.) Sydney, March 20. . The Prime Minister (Mr. Cook) emphatically denies the statements attributed to Mr. Finlayson,a Labour M.P., regarding Lord Denman's resignation. SYDNEY TRAMWAYS DEFICIT. (Received March 20. 9.50 p.m.) Sydney, March 20. The Premier (Mr. Holman) has supplied the Assembly with a statement from the Railway Commissioners showing that the tramway returns for the year 1912-13 were as follows —Earnings, £1,754,566, expenditure £1,572,190, interest on capital invested £214,832. deficit £32,456. The estimated deficit for the vear ending June 30 is £61,038. OLD CRICKETER DEAD- . ~ (Received March 20. 8.5 p.m.) /.''" Sydjtet, March 20. The death is announced of Harry HilHard, ah old-time Australian" cricketer. '"L'j. 1 V. 3TS 'IE!