AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8407, 23 April 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

DOUBLE SHIPPING DISASTER. Received April 22, 9.11 a.m. ADELAIDE, April 22. A serious double shipping disaster occurred yesterday morning. The ship Arden Craig, inward bound from London, with a full general cargo, in the first instance collided with and sank the barque Norma at the Semaphore. The Norma was lying at anchorage ready to go to sea, with 31,000 bags of wheat aboard. All hands, with the exception of the watchman, were below at the time. The crew got out a lifeboat,'and, with the exception of the carpenter (Johnson, a Norwegian), left the ship as she was disappearing. Johnson's absence was not noticed till the boat reached the Arden Craig. A boat from the Arden Craig went to search for Johnson, but the man could not be seen owing to the darkness and to the heavy sea running. The boat got into a leeward position, and the crew found it impossible to row back to windward, and gradually drifted to the outer harbour works, where they were picked up by a steam launch. Later on the steamer Jessie Darling, inward bound with a wheat cargo, approached the Arden Craig. The master, Captain Ronald, noticing a spar standing out of the water, bore down, under the impression that someone was clinging to it. Those on the Arden Craig shouted frantically to the steamer to stand off, but owing to a misunderstanding, the Jessie Darling steamed over the wreck. One of the spars pierced her, and in five minutes she was resting on the submerged vessel. The Arden Craig was only slightly damaged.

STRIKE AT MOUNT ZEEHAN

Received April 22, 9.47 a.m. HOBART, April 22. The Tasmanian Smelting Company's works at Mount Zeehan have been shut down during a strike of furnace hands. Notices have also been sent out that no more ore is to be purchased until further notice. This has led to cessation of work at three mines and shortening of hands at others, and unless there is a speedy settlement, the probability is that 1,100 men will be thrown out ot\employmsnt.

A SUICIDE BUREAU. Received April 22, 10.30 p.m. MELBOURNE, April 22. The Salvation Army are starting a Suicide Bureau to lend assistance to persons in trouble, who are contemplating suicide.

ESCAPED "PRISONERS RE-CAPTURED.

Received April 22, 10.30 p.m. HOBART, April 22. Escaped prisoners from Campelltown gaol have been re-captured.

COAL LUMPERS' STRIKE

Received April 23, 1.5 a.m. SYDNEY, April 22. The situation in regard to the coal lumpers' trouble is becoming more acute. Owine to the increased demand for coal as the result of new arrivals, the employers find themselves unable to cope with the demand. A few more men have signed the agreement, but are not coming forward in anything like the numbers required to insure expeditious bunkering. Neither side shows any intention of weakening.