AUSTRALIAN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9300, 30 December 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION. Sydney, December 28. By a boiler explosion at a bone mill near West Maitland, Booth, the engineer, was scalded to death, and a man named Newton is in a precarious state from the shock. STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. During the thunderstorm last night the lightning struck the flagstaff at Admiralty House, travelled along the telephone wires, fused the gas-pipes, and ignited the escaping gas, but the fire was extinguished before a great amount of damage was doneDISASTROUS COLLISION. December 29. The steam tugs Leveret and Stormcock collided at the Heads yesterday. The former sank, but her crew landed safely. A DISABLED STEAMER. The agents hava received a cablegram that the Miowera, bound from Sydney, picked up the new steamer Strathnevis, of 3600 tons, disabled, and towed her for five days during a hurricane off Cape Flattery, United States. A STEAMER AGROUND. Brisbane, December 28. The steamer Duke of Westminster ran aground on Parker Island. The tugs failed to shift her at high tide. OBSERVATORY STATIONS. Mr Wragge, the Government meteorologist, has completed a chain of observing stations from Tasmania to Thursday Island, and it only remains for the South Australian Government to do a similar work to Port Darwin. The line will render an immense service to Australasian meteorology. AN AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. Adelaide, December 28. The Cape Colony Agricultural Commission has arrived here. It visits the south-east district of this colony, and thence goes to the other colonies and New Zealand. RICH MINES. Pekth, December 28. The returns of the crushing of stone from the Great Boulder mine, Kalgoorlie, from April to December, gives to the ton. The Lake View mine's output for twelve months averaged 3oz. DEATH OF A PASSENGER. Hobart, December 28. A steerage passenger named Alexander, a shearer, died'of ague during the voyage of the Rangitikei.