AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue I, 4 July 1903, Page 21

AUSTRALIA.

Tn the golf championship of Australia Souther (New South Wales) beat Bonder (Victoria). Dr. Dowie, the wealthy prophet of Zion City, will visit Australia in December. MELBOURNE ASSAULT CASE. Mr Justice Hood, in sentencing a boy for assault on a girl, said that his experience of these cases was rapidly strengthening him in the opinion that there was a class of young people growing up here who live between men and savages so far as the sexual relation was concerned. The girls knew neither virtue nor modesty, and the boys neither honour Jior honesty. They apparently feared the laws of neither God nor man. MARKET FOR NEW ZEALAND WOOL. With reference to the dirqet shipment of New Zealand wools to the Continent, proposals in connection with the matter and of arranging a direct steam line have been submitted to the European principals of those moving in the matter. It is understood that if a scheme is evolved the producers of New Zealand will receive cash down for their wool. While the trade in cross breds is not perhaps large at present, foreign buyers believe it can be largely developed. N.S.W. STOCK RETURNS.

The stock returns for the year ended December last, allowing a considerable margin in each case for animals on adjustment outside the State, are stated to number: Sheep in the State, 20,675,000, decrease 15,183,000; cattle, 1,625,000, decrease 264,003; horses 421,000, decrease 34,000. The actual lambing of the whole State is estimated at 237.8 per cent.; spring lambing giving 40, autumn 20J, and winter - 19} per cent. The total clip is stated at 148,096,000 pounds, or a decrease of over 96 million pounds on the previous year. Pigs are estimated at 193,000, showing a decrease of 72,000. A FIREMEN’S STRIKE.

Twenty-seven firemen and trimmers on the Orient liner Orita, which is in Sydney from London and the Mediterranean, have been convicted of disobeying the lawful commands of the Orient Company’s officers. It appears that these men were given for their breakfast meat which they considered too fat. and coffee which did not appeal to . their palate. They thereupon decided to do no further work until the commissariat improved to their liking. The police, however, were sent for, and the matter was settled by the Stipendiary Magistrate at the Water Police Court sending each of the men to prison for a period of 21 days. DROUGHT AT BROKEN HILL. Altogether over 5600 men are idle at Broken Hill. The Government has taken measures to relieve any cases of distress. Including smelting works and shipping interests in South Australia, 40,000 people are directly affected in two States. The first water train arrived from South Australia on June 24, and the local Council took charge of selling it to the residents at a charge of five shillings per 100 gallons. The Municipal Baths authorities have urged the construction of storage reservoirs. The Proprietary Company has a fortnight’* supply of ore at Port I’irie Smelting Works. If these works are compelled to close twelve hundred men wil be idle, besides a hundred engaged in the shipment of ore and in the limestone quarries. SMALL-POX AT LAUNCESTON. Five fresh cases of small pox were discovered in Launceston on June 24, including that of Dr. Bernard, house sur-

geon at the General Hospital. Houses and patients are being isolated. and every precaution is being taken. The Union Company insist that all passengers applying for tickets must produce the vaccination certificates. Consternation prevails over- the fact that since the sth inst. no less than fifteen persons have been discharged from the hospital after suffering from what is now known to have been small pox, and that the disease is liable to be spread in all directions. A large number are being vaccinated. Strict precautions are being taken in the other States against Tasmania, which has been declared infected.

Everything possible is being done to pi event the spread of small-pox to Hobart. The mails and persons travelling by the ma.l trains are fumigated.

It is now stated that there is no doubt that the disease was brought by the Gracchus’ passenger since the first patient had contact with him, and developed small-pox a fortnight after.