Australian News.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6294, 15 February 1892, Page 3

Australian News.

Sydney, Feb. 4. — The house of Thomas Walsh, near Banowindra, N.S. W., was destroyed by fire on the 2nd inst., and three children, aged 6 years, 4 years, and 1 year. were burned to death. The children had crowded under the bed with the evident intention of escaping from the flames. Their mother was out after the cows, and the father was away at the time of the fire. The New South Wales Minister of Lands, accompanied by Lord Jersey and Lord Charles Scott, is on a visit of inspection to the rabbit-infested districts. Much of the country travelled over was found to be completvlj devastated by rabbits, aided by the drought. Sir Matthew H. Davies writes to the Melbourne papers denying that he has compounded with his creditors or that he is in financial difficulties.

Noel De Leon, for 20 years canvasser and collector to the Age and Leader, has been committed to trial for embezzling £700. His earning in salary and commission amounted tr £1000 a year, but he got into difficulties

through T)»ttlhff ' Mid * "gambling. His wife and family are living in poverty. Melbourne, Feb. 6.— Large meetings of Unemployed are almost daily held in Melbourne, and people are clamoring for work. j After lasting thirteen weeks, the tailors strike was finally declared "ott. me Strike Committee, taking into cons-dera-tion the falling off in the funds, decided to recommend this course to the Union, whose defeat is chiefly attributed to the antagonistic persistence of Jewish sweaters. Some few of the strikers had, during last week, been compelled to resume work from sheer necessity. A mass meeting of men was held, at which the members of the Strike committee explained that as there was no present hope of gaining a concession from the masters, it would be useless to create further distress by continuing the strike. With about a dozen dissentients, the meeting agreed to the recommendation to return to work unconditionally, on whatever terms the masters concede. The return, however, will be under protest against " freedom of contract." A deputation, representing 7CO settlers and workmen whose services have been dispensed with by the Railway Commissioners, waited on the New South Wales Treasurer, their object being to ask that the Government -should carry out the proposed Shea's Creek Canal, and thus absorb surplus labor. The Treasurer, in promising to lay the matter before his colleagues, said he entirely sympathised with the object of getting work for the people. The Government did not intend to discharge workmen for the sake of retrenchment, and would not do so unless compelled to take that course by the failure of the funds.

Patutahi Concert and Dance. — Brake fare (return) and admission to Concert (front seats) and Eance, 4s. — (Advt.) A Fruit Banquet and a full evening's entertainment at the Wesleyan Conversazione on Tuesday next. — (Advt.) Mrs "Wharton Goldsmith, Messrs Slack, Dalrymple, Mitchell, J. Searle, and East will contribute to the Wesleyan Conversazione. — (Advt. )