AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8323, 3 January 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE BUILDING STRIKE. ■Received January 2, 9.34 am. MELBOURNE, January 2. The master builders are making arrangements to resume work tomorrow. Only those willing to work 48 hours will be engaged.

KILLED BY LIGHTNING.

Received January 2, 8.35 a.m. SYDNEY, January 2.

During a .thunderstorm at Mahonga a man named Hopkins was killed by lightning, and Dennis, his companion, was seriously injured. At Leura a girl was killed by lightning. GETTING ROUND THE GAMING LAWS. Received January 2, 8.35 a.m. MELBOURNE, January 2. The enforcement of the provisions of the Gaming Act prohibiting the making of wagers between bookmakers and women was responsible for some comical incidents at the Flemington races. Many feminine punters, however, managed to get round the law by betting through their male friends.

THE BELMONT TRAGEDY. PERTH,, January 1. Details of the tragedy at Belmont —in which a man named Viscomvitch killed a girl named Campbell and then committed suicide—show that Viscomvitch had persistently forced his attentions upon Miss Campbell, who was in his employ. He had repeatedly threatened to take the lives of herself and other members of her family. CATHOLIC CHURCH ROBBED. Received January 2, 10.51 p.m. SYDNEY, January 2. Burglars entered the Catholic Church at Lewisham and blew open the safe, securing a silver chalice cup, valued at thirty pounds. REVENUE RETURNS. SYDNEY, January 1. The revenue of New South Wales for the half-year ended' yesterday, amouned to £6,564,000, an increase of £846,395 on the corresponding half of last year. The value of the State's mineral production in 1905 was £7,086,000. It is expected that the year 1906 will show a large increase, -i The finances of the City Council for the year disclose a surplus of over £32,000. There were 428 petitions in bankruptcy in New South Wales last T year. The liabilities totalled £179,700, and the assets £93,200.

The Daily Telegraph, in its.review of the trade of 1906, says the year has been one of a succession of years of materially increasing prosperity—of improvement upon improvement; while the ou,tlook for the new year is for greater expansion. Taken collectively, the advance in production and prosperity has been most striking. ADELAIDE, January 1. , The revenue for the half-year shows an increase of £132,000. EXCITING SCENE AT SEA. MELBOURNE, January 1. The steamer Irish Monarch, Captain Graham, which arrived here today, from New York, had an exciting experience owing to an outbreak of fire.

When the vessel was a hundred and eighty miles from the heads on Sunday sparks were noticed coming from the ventilator of the after hold. Steps were taken to smother the fire by hermetically sealing every aperture The decks became red-hot, ' and the deck cargo caught fire. Much of this consisted of inflammable freight for Sydney, and a large quantity of it was thrown overboard, but the bulk of a tier of casks, containing resin, was saved. Large quantites of kerosene and turpentine were stored in the burning hold, over which the work of jettisoning the deck cargo was conducted. The fire was gradually got under. The hold in which the fire happened contained general cargo for Mel-/ bourne andjLyttelton. How the outbreak occurred is a mystery. Examination as far as possible was made of the vessel on arrival, but owing to the dense smoke the outbreak could not be definitely located. Several burning cases were taken from the hold, which it was deemed wise to cover up again lest a current of air should cause the fire to break out with greater force. It was arranged that lighters should be taken alongside to-day and the cargo transhipped. The harbour authorities decline to permit the steamer to proceed alongside the wharf until the fire is completely extinguished.

THE COLLIERY DISPUTE. Received January 3, 1.6 a.m, SYDNEY, January 2. The New Lambton, Rhonnda, Northumberland and Cardiff collieries, in the Newcastle district, are idle, the men refusing to start under the new scale of pay. An early settlement is expected.

SHIPPING. Received January 3, 1.6 a.m. SYDNEY, January 2. Sailed —Manuka. NEWCASTLE, January 2. Sailed—Selwyn Craig, for Auckland. MELBOURNE, January 2. Arrived —Hazel Craig, from Kaipara.

CABLE NKWS*

By Telegraph—Press A.-'or.i.vziln--