LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2337, 23 February 1884, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

♦ [REUTER’S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. ARRIVAL OF THE RUAPEHU. DEATH OF SIR CHARLES SLADEN. REPORTED SERIOUS STEAMBOAT COLLISION NEAR HOBART. (Received February 22, 7 p.m.) Melbourne, February 22. Sir Charles Sladen, M.L.C., who has been ill for some time past, died to-day • aged 68. J (Received February 23, 1.30 p.m.) February 23. The Age to-day publishes a telegram from a special correspondent at Hobart stating that while the Union steamship Wairarapa was racing the steamship Adelaide to the Heads a collision occurred between the two vessels when nearing Swanspit Light. The steamer Wairarapa was struck and the plate dented to a depth of three inches above

the cook’s berth, which must be damaged. It is estimated that the repairs to the Wairarapa will cost fully £IOOO. The correspondent of the Age declares that the passengers on board expressed great indignation at the occurrence. Hobart, February 22. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Ruapehu arrived here yesterday en route to New Zealand, and coaled. Adelaide, February 22. Arrived, last night, the Messageries Maritime Company’s steamship Salazie, from Marseilles, January 16. >——< ANNEXATION OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS QUESTION. ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received February 22, 2.20 p.m.) Melbourne, February 22. The Hon. James Service, Premier, received a telegram from Mr Murray Smith, Colonial Agent-General, reporting that the latter had an important interview with the TJnder-Secretary Colonial Office regarding the federation of the Australian Colonies and the Pacific [lslands] annexation. In the course of the interview, Sir Robert Herbert announced that her Majesty’s Government had decided not to sanction any annexation of the Western Pacific islands until the federation of the Australian Colonies had been accomplished 3 and that it would be necessary for the various colonial legislatures to adopt resolutions confirming the action of their delegates at the Sydney Convention before the Imperial Parliament could pass the necessary enabling Act 3 which, however, would be prepared by the Imperial authorities, and which it was proposed to lay before Parliament during the present session. The Colonial Under-Secretary urges that steps should be taken by the Colonial Governments to expedite the passage of the resolution above mentioned, and added that a guarantee by the colonies of £IO,OOO would secure the appointment of interim High Commissioners of the Western Pacific, with enlarged powers.