AUSTRALIAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13841, 1 March 1909, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

Free* Associatinn-Uy Telegraph-Copyright DEPRESSION AT NEWCASTLE. , SYDNEY, Feb. 27. The depression in the New castle district is so acute that many miners are on the starvation. , SYDNEY TRAGEDY. , The ni.in named Walker, wlio shot at girl named Vanue and then shot himself, is dead. He and the girl were fellow passengers from England a few months ago. THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY. The State Government has informed the Prime Minister of its willingness to construct destroyers at the Government dockyard. Received 1.8 a.m., March Ist. GROSS FRAUD. SYDNEY, Feb. 2S. The New Zealand Government ag°ncy is making an investigation of several cases vihcie goods alleged to hv it New Zealand origin are offered l>>r t,\i*. In one instance New Zealand flannel good--were displayed, which turned out lut to be flannel at all, but meie shodd;' SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY. MELBOURNE, Feb. 27. The Metropolitan Saturday Halfholiday Bill has parsed both Houses. Ftom May all shops, with the exception of a few businesses, w ill close at 1 o'clock on Saturd<ns. TELEPHONE SERVICE. Ow iiig to the loss in the telephone veivice, the Government has decided + o charge a rental of £3 to £4 annually, and ftx a charge ner call. The latter is not decided, but .1 charge ol a hallpennj per call is suggested. Received J. 30 n.m.. Feb. '2Bth. OUTBREAK OF SMALLPOX. PERTH, Feb. 28. The steamer Redbngc, from Calcutta, has been quarantined at Bunbury. Captain Smith "has succumbed to smallpox, and some of the members of the crew are suflermg from the disease. v , ,