AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1169, 27 July 1894, Page 34

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, July 19. The Government analyst has found traces of arsenic in the body of Mrs Needle's husband. In the debate on the second reading of the Bill to grant the franchise to women, the opinions, for the most part, are either against the principle altogether, or iii favour of ascertaining whether the great body of women demanded the franchise. The Premier suggested that when women demanded the franchise they would have to get it, but he will leave the matter until after the next election, and in the meantime will find out by means of the referendum whether the women wanted it. The debate is proceeding. Melbourne, July 22. Jordan, the coloured man who was arrested on a charge of being concerned in the murder of the woman Hicks, with whom he had been living, has been found guilty, and sentenced to death. Sydney, July 20. The Barraba murderers were executed at Tamworth to-day. Lees walked to the scaffold, and was apparently indifferent to the fate that awaited him. Cummings, however, was in a fainting condition, and had to be wheeled there. Lees, in his speech from the scaffold, declared that Cummings was innocent, and he denied that he himself was guilty of murder. Cummings was practically dead before the bolt was di'awn. The confession left by Lees, the Barraba murderer, previous to his execution has been published. He adheres to his original statement that Mr Mac Kay was shot accidentally in the struggle. Sydney, July 22. Inquiries have been made with reference to the statement by the St. James' Gazette, London, that women in Sydney were eaters of arsenic. So far the result of the inquiry goes in the direction of proving that the statement has no foundation in fact. Fears are entertained for the safety of the steamer Duckenfield, from Napier, and the steamer Phcebe has been sent in search of her. Sydney, July 23. Tho sfceam?r Phcebe has returned without finding any trace of the Duckenfield. Brisbane, July 24. Sir S. Griffiths has forwarded to the Chief Secretary the correspondence in reference to illegal trading by New Hebrides missionaries, which came under his notice when Premier. Sir S. Griffiths added a minute defending the Government agent in the matter against the missionaries and the High Commissioner, despite the fact that the latter expressed an opinion that the agent's statements wei*e unworthy of credence. The sugar yield shows an increase of thirteen thousand tons compared with that of last year. Hobaet, July 19. The Legislative Council has reduced the Income Tax on realised wealth from Is to lOd. The Government i 3 not likely to accept the amendment providing for the assessment of land on the unimproved value, which passed the Legislative Assembly by a large majority.