AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9121, 22 June 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—Hv Electric Telegraph Copyright.

PEARLS STOLEN. PERTH, June 20. Two brothers, pearl fishers at Onslow, at the mouth of the Ashburton River, hid for security three thousand pounds' worth of pearls in some old clothes, which were placed in a portmanteau. The latter was stolen, it is supposed for the sake of the clothes alone.

REJECTED TIMBER

SYDNEY, June 20

Two shipmciints, aggregating twenty thousand sleepers, sent to South Africa were rejected on arrival there, although passed by the Government Inspector here as being in accordance with specifications. The Government is communicating with the authorities in South Africa,

POPULATION OF MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY.

SYDNEY, June 20. The population of Syney at tie close of the year was 550,600. and of Melbourne 538,000, making them the eighth and ninth cities, respectively, in the Empire.

SELLING WINE ON A STEAMER. A STEWARD PROSECUTED. SYDNEY, June 20. The chiof steward of (he Union steamer M >eraki was proceeded against for selling wine to two passengers after the steamer was moored. Counsel for the defence raised the point that the Moeraki was on a foreign register, and was not subjec to local law ; also that the owners were exempt under the Liquor Act as the sale was made before tlu wine was landed and therefore they need not take out a packet license. Decision was reserved. THE LOSS OF THE BEGA. FINDING OF MARINE COURT. Rcce'ved June 20. 8.2 p.m. SYDNEY, June 20. The Marine Court found that the immediate cause of the loss of the Bega was the presence of water in the ship, but how it got there was a mystery. The Court considered that the capta'n and officers, when they realised the danger, did all possible to save life. The Court could not be satisfied that there had been an improper stowage of cargo. FIJI-MELBOURNE STEAM SERVICE. MELBOURNE, June 20. The Premier lias received u cable message from Fiji, stating that the Government, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, proposed to vote five tl ousand pounds to subsidise direct steamers to Melbourne.