AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 267, 1 April 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

MAHENO IN A HEAVY GALE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received .1, 12.40 a.m. Sydney, March 31. The Malicno encountered a heavy south-west gale, which was at its height on Thursday. She was struck by a tremendous sea, which damaged the vessel's deck fittings, smashed a dozen cabin windows, and flooded the smoking room, social hall and alleyway. The passengers were knee-deep in water. A family of three (man, woman and child) were rather severely cut by falling glass. SEAMEN'S CLATMS. Received 1, 12.40 a.m. Melbourne, March 31. The claims of the Federated Seamen's Tnion of Australasia have been filed. The Federated Arbitration Court will be asked that the pay of aule seamen be fixed at £B, ordinary seamen .CO, boatmen and lamp trimmers .£!), donkey-men £ll, greasers and firemen £lO, and trimmers £8 a month.

QUARANTINE PRECAUTION'S. Received 1. 12.40 a.m. Melbourne, March 31. Owing to plague, strict quarantine precautions arc being adopted in connection with vessels arriving from New Zealand. THE REFERENDA PROPOSALS. Received 31. M.lO p.m. Sydney. March 31. Speaking on the referenda proposals, Mr. Beehy said those responsible for the controversy, instead of facing the issue, were asking the people if the time were ripe for the proposed change. They were taking a short cut to unification. This was fraught with danger to the future Government of the Commonwealth. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECISIONS. Received 31. 11.40 p.m. Sydney. March 31. The Federal Government has decided to hold over till the Prime Minister's return from England, consideration of a subsidy for Dr. Mawson's Antarctic expedition. Tliey consider the amount asked, viz., £20,000. is very high. They also have similarly deferred consideration of Admiral Henderson's report, the Minister of Defence while in England consulting the Admiralty upon certain matters connected with the report.