AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8357, 13 February 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CUSTOMS FRAUDS. Received February 12, 10.2 a.m. ADELAIDE, February 12. After the longest trial in the history of the State, Tucker and Forwood were found guilty, and were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment. (William Forwood was a licensed Customs agent, and Charles Tucker, also an agent, was a member of the House of Assembly, and was for four terms Mayor of Adelaide. According to the Auditor-General, irregularities in the Port Adelaide Customs accounts, commencing in 1898, amounted to £26,000. The report of the board of enquiry exonerated the Customs officials. It was stated that Forwood, as agent, manipulated the invoices, and thereby escaped with payments of lesser duty. Tucker denied that anything done to rob the Customs was done with ■ his knowledge ; and Forwood denied that there was any agreement with Tucker to rob the Customs. Counsel for the Crown stated that the Martin Company had paid £59,000 into the account of Tucker, as their authorised agent, of which amount £31,000 had not reached the Cus- , toms Department). I SIR JOSEPH WARD. Received February 12, 10.2 a.m PERTH, February 12. Sir Joseph Ward was met at Fremantle by the Governor and Admiral Fawkes, who accompanied him to Perth, where the party was welcomed by Mr Price on behalf of the Ministry. The press representatives asked Sir Joseph Ward for a special message to Australia. He replied: "Make Australia white and keep it white." SEDDONIAN LINES FOR DEAKIN MINISTRY. Received February 12, 10.2 a.m. SYDNEY, February 12. Sir William Lyne, Federal Minister of Customs, speaking at Albury, said he would not belong to any Government, that did not follow closely on the lines of the late Mr Seddon. COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRATION. Received February 12, 10.2 a.m. SYDNEY, February 12. The immigrants that entered the Commonwealth last year numbered 57,646. A SEVERE GALE. Received February 13, 1.11 a.m, SYDNEY, February 12. The Observatory reports a severe gale at Norfolk Island moving Westward. THE PLAGUE. Received February 13, 1.11. a.m. SYDNEY, February 12. Another case of plague is reported in the city. The authorities are considering the question of placing buildings where cases occur under quarantine. v - Another death from plague has occurred at Kempsey. SHIPPING DISASTERS. Received February 12, 5.47 p.m. SYDNEY, February 12. The steamer Captain Cook has returned with the crews of the wrecked vessels Annasona and Maelgwyn. The crews are well. Detailed accounts show that the' Annasona, in ballast, struck the Middleton reef at 5 o'clock on the morning of January 18th, and immediately commenced to fill. An attempt was made to kedge off, but owing to the rapid rise of the water, ifc, had to be abandoned. The weather at the time of stranding was calm, but became rough, causing the vessel to bump so heavily that all the masts went over the side. Before noon, recognising the hopelessness of standing by the crew took to the boats. A heavy sea and swarming sharks made the underI taking a hazardous one. While the i boats were pulling for the lagooin, inside the reef, they were picked up by the ■ schooner Stanley, which was cruising in the vicinity. The j schooner's accommodation was taxed [to the utmost. She reached Lord Howe Island, after a rough trip, on the 25th. The Maelgwyn ran into a heavy gale on January 15th, and was stripped of her sails. The next day she was rolling heavily and mountainous seas caused the ballast of pebbles to shift, throwing the vessel on her beam ends. The masts were cut away to try to straighten the barque. For six days, with the lee bulwarks under water, the Maelgwyn was buffeted about |by the gale. The crew worked hard trying to bring her to an even keel, but the position only grew worse. She was abandoned on the morning of January 25th. On the same day they sighted Lord Howe i Island, which the boats reached the same night. Both crews spertk highly of the kind treatment received on the island.