CITY AND EDITION. AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5462, 14 January 1896, Page 3

CITY AND EDITION. AUSTRALIA.

[Special to Press Association.] EXECUTION. MELBOUENE, Jan. 13. Charles Strange was executed this morning for the murder of a jockey na^ed Joseph Docey, near Cunninghame, in November last. Death was instantaneous. The condemned man was penitent. It has transpired that Strange and Docey quarrelled about a gM, and Docey made disparaging, remarks .about 'her. Strange retaliated with strong language, whereupon Docey struck him in the face. Strange became enraged, and picking up an axe dealt the other man a death blow. EAINFALL IN VICTORIA. The average rainfall throughout the colony f0r.1895 was47'o6 inches, the lowest since 1865.. : The average for the last.thirtynine years was. 25-87 inches. The evaporation last year was also much above the average..;. '. v .-I _ "... •:;.;: MELBOTJENE BUILDJNG. SOCIETIES. The Ago says "that. *it ■ is becoming clearer every day that several of the larger* building societies, which, in proportion to the shareholders' capital, have very heavy liabilities ,~to- depositors, . cannpt possibly tiope to';haye anything for ■• members, even where the interest due to creditors, ha? beeA-Teduceid to ,-2i or 3 per cent. . The form ia which they/ are; being carried on is renting, in loss every day, -besides, inducing'", ruinous Competition in attempts to realise securities en Hoc at auction, which can only be absorbed by degrees. .Unless shareholders are prepared to take some steps towards amalgamation, which would reduce the cost of management, tend towards, uniform administration and control of assets, the creditors are likely to regret the day they were induced to consent to the postponement of the payment of their debts. - r : HAWXEES' LICENSES. . SYDNEY,' Jan. 14. A full Bench dealt with the question of hawkers'; licenses. There were 193 applications for' renewal, of which twenty-three iwere withdrawn, and" as the police hadoao complaint to make against the remainder, which included a number recently refused by one Magistrate, all were granted. Seven out of nine new applications were refused> on the aground that the applicants , were insufficiently known to the police. *TELEGEAPHIC INTEEEUPTION. . ADELAIDE, Jan. 14. Severe thunderstorms > and heavy rains in the Northern, Territory are interfering with the telegraphic •. service overland. The cable • line in* the . vicinity of Port Darwin has been blooked.since. last night.