AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 65, 1 April 1901, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. (.Received 30, 9.28 a.m.) Sydney, March 30. A daring robbery has been committed at the Hotel Australia. Two lady guests were robbed of jewellery valued at .£IOOO and .£3OO respectively. The thieves used duplicate keys to the rooms during 'he kdios' &bsr-nce. Gre»nfe !, for tbe bank robbery at Weedfall, was sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour. Melbourne, March 30. The rW. Fra* r has forwarded f om the New Hebiiles to '.he Committee of the New Hebrides Mission Synod a petition from the natives of the Island of Ep r to the King, asking Great Britain to annex the Inland. The pe'itioceis stile: —"There are many white mrn coming io the New Hebrides, and at the hands of some of thtse, mostly Frenchman, we have suffered cruel wrong j . Some have forcibly possess d themsnlvftfl of our lands, burnt down o'ir home?, shot our pigs, and harwed us in other ways. We wish to live in peace, but at pr. sent we have no protection from such injuries. Many of us know the English language, and appreciate and cliog to tho blessing of the Gospel and civilisation, which ocme to us through m9D of your nation. We also feel that tbe conduct of the British race is more just and humane towards black races than that of any other white men. Therefore, we ' .-ii'ii'stly beseech your Majesty to take us under your protection, and that our islands be annexed to the British Empire." Mr. Fraser siys the petition simply voices the feelings of the natives throughout the whole group, and that suie'y fuch a call forj protection cannot be lightly laie aside by the British nation.

Received 31,5.1 D p.m. Brisbane, March 31, A boy named Gardner has the plague. Sydney, March 31. A fire at Tern rubra destroyed an hotel and thrfe shops and the post office. The Ion; is unstated. The half-caste Lock has surrendered to the police.