AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8473, 26 June 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

GALE ON THE AUSTRALIAN COAST. Received June 25, 10.24 a.m. SYDNEY* June 25. Terrific seas are running along the coast. The gale continues. Received June 26, 12.10 a.m. SYDNEY, June 25. The centre of the present storm is between Norfolk Island and Sydney. The barometer at the former place, to-day, read 29.35.

SETTLEMENT OF THE TIMBER DISPUTE. Received June 25, 10.24 a.m. PERTH, June 25. The long-standing timber dispute has been settled by the a co-operative agreement. Work was resumed to-day.

HURRICANE IN THE PACIFIC. Received June 25, 10.24 a.m. SYDNEY, June 25. A hurricane passed over the Ellice Group in the middle of April. The island of Nukualealea was devastated. Eight thousand cocoanut trees were levelled, and the native houses nearly all demolished.

A CRUISER ASHORE. Received June 25, 6.57 p.m. SYDNEY, June 25. The cruiser Pyramus, with the Governor-General and party aboard, while returning from a visit to the Northern territory, grounded at sea oh a reef 14 miles from Flinders Island, near Cooktown, on Sunday morning. The steamer Tsinau came to the cruiser's assistance, and made two ineffectual,' attempts to tow her off. A further attempt will be made at the spring tide to-morrow. Lord Northcote and party were transferred to the Tsinau. It is reported that so far the cruiser is undamaged.

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. Received June 26, 12.10 a.m. SYDNEY, June 25. The Challenger, which reached Melbourne at 9 o'clock this morning, was in wireless communication with the Powerful at Sydney till 5 o'clock this morning. The Pscyhe, v lying in Hobson's Bay, sent messages to the Challenger, which A in turn repeated them to the Powerful, a distance of 410 miles as the crow flies. RETURNED FROM THE CONFERENCE. Received June 26, 12.10 a.m. MELBOURNE, June 25. Mr A. Deakin and Sir Wm. Lyne received an enthusiastic welcome on their return from London. Sir J. Forrest, in a speech, said: —"The best thing for Australia to do was to get closer and closer to Great Britain. Their interests and ours are identical." Received June 26 : 12.40 a.m. MELBOURNE, June 25. Mr Deakin said that the feeling was growing, and he hoped it would have its realisation in four years, that the self - governing colonies would communicate direct with the Prime Minister of England. That was an important thing to gain. British dpinion was largely governed by a few men distinguished in politics, finance and so forth. Sir Wm. , Lyne, replying to the welcome accorded him. said that Mr Deakin and himself had been charged with trenching on English politics. It was inevitable in dealing with preferential trade that they should make some allusion to its effect in England. There had been no undue touching on the British local aspects of politics.