AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7952, 30 January 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT GEMBROOK. A SCENE OP WILD EXCITEMENT. SEVENTY PERSONS INJURED. Received January 29, 8.51 a.m. MELBOURNE, January 29. A serious railway accident is reported from Gembrook (fifty-one miles south-east of Melboune). The accident was due to an excursion train, which was running ou a narrow ttauga line from Pern tree Gully to Gembrook, becoming derailed. The train consisted of eight covered trucks containing 250 Melbourne excursionists. While rounding a curve the engine left the lin ( e dragging with it three trucks crammed with passengers. The engine ploughed some distance up an embankment and theu fell over the side. A scone of wild excitement ensued. When the passengers were extricated from the splintered truoks it' was found that about seventy had received injuries The majority of the passengers only suffered slight injuries. The most serious cases are—Mrs Cox and Mr Ernest Gleeson, who are injured internally. Mrs Gleesoti severely damaged her leg, and Mr T. Russell fractured hia arm. Mr Sheehan had his wrist fractured and was badly cut. Two or three others are suffering very much from shock. Trains were despatched from Melbourne and brought the.excursionists and injured back. A great crowd of people was waiting till early this morning at the Spencer Streat station. NEW SOUTH WALES LABOUR PARTY. Received January 29, 9.51 a.m. SYDNEY, January 29. The Political Labour League Conference has decided that a Labour oandidate shall contest every seat at the next election. A resolution was also passed favouring a Radical j amendment of the Arbitration Act. PA CI PIO CABLE. THE CHI BP ELECTRICIAN'S VIEWS. NOTHING TO PEAR PROM WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. Received January 29, 10.19 p.m. BRISBANE, January 29. Mr Milward, Chief Eleotrioian of the Paoiflo Cable Company, has arrived by the Miowera on his annual tour of inspection. He says that the cable is working exceedingly well, and the traffic was satisfactory as far as it went. At an early date changes would be made regarding the handing in of messages, placing the Pacific Company on the same footing as the Extension Company. He considers that the cable companies have nothing to fear from wireless telegraphy, as there is a great deal of uncertainty in oonneotcn with the system, and it is also much slower, though it may prove useful in isolated places where there is insufficient inducement to lay cables. CAPTURE OF A PLAGUE RAT. Reoeived January 29, 10.19 p.m, , SYDNEY, January 29. A plague rat has been caught at .Darling Harbour. N f HEAVY SI'ORMS. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE Reoeived January 30, 1.6 a.m. SYDNEY, January 29. Heavy storms, aoaompanied by a phenomenal rainfall, have been experienced in the Carcoar and Blayney districts. Muoh injury" has been naused to orops and property *Many buildings are seriously damaged. GRAIN HANDLERS' STRIKE ENDED. Received January 30, 1.6 a.m. SYDNEY, January 29. The Darling Harbour grain handlers' strike is practically settled. Some of the men have returned to work.