AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8160, 16 June 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A METEOROLOGY BILL. Received June 16, 12,25 a.m. MELBOURNE, June 15. The Meteorology Bill, which has been 'introduced into the Senate, provides for ; a Federal meteorologist, and confers power to make ar- j rangements to take over any State j observatory. : RABBIT EXTERMINATION. Received June 16, 12.53 a.m. MELBOURNE, June 15. The Federal House of Representatives has dooided that Dr Dansyz's experiments must not extend beyond the laboratory nntil it has been conclusively proved that they will be non-inimical to other live stock. A CHECK VALVE BLOWS OUT. FOUR MEN SEVERELY SCALDED. Recaved June 16, 1.12 a.m. PORT DARWIN, June 15. The pheok valve blew out of the steamer Airlie, and severely scalded the Chief Engineer (O'Keefe), the Fourth Engineer, and two men. SEVERE EARTH TREMOR RECORDED. Received June 16, 12.7 a.m. SYDNEY, June 15. The seismograph observatory recorded on June Ist a severe earth tremor at 2.50 o'clook in the afternoon, but no record has been received of any shock in other localities. A peouliar feature Is that the boom of the instrument, which was displaced by the shook, now pointtj cvi o millimetres further to the eastward, and indicates that the crust of the earth at this spot has as-1 sumed a new level. THE LOSS OF THE OAKBURN. DETAILS OF THE WRECK. Received June 15, 7.31 a.m. »• ■ 'SYDNEY, june 15. The Cape mail brings details of the loss of the steamer Oakburn, , wbioh left New York for Sydney | and Wellington on the 18th April, and was wruoked off Duokerpoint, Cape Colony, on the alst May. The vessel was wrecked in thick weather at 6.30 o'clock in the morning. The steamer was going at full speed, and those on board were startled by an awfal thud. The steamer comiuenoed to fill immediately. Boats were hastily lowered, and the forty souls aboard, including the captain's wife and two children, and a lady companion, safely I reached the shore. . Two Chinamen lost their lives. One attempted to swim ashore and was drowned and the other was orushed to death between a boat and the vessel's side. The majority of the crew were asleep, and had only time to snatch up a few olothes. The ladieß escaped in their nightdresses. MINERS' TROUBLE ENDED. Received June 15, 8.30 a.m. [SYDNEY, June 15. The Pelaw mine trouble has ended, the wheelers having returned to work.