AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11551, 6 April 1903, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. A STEAMER'S MISHAP. SYDNEY, April 4. Advices havo been received that the steamer Damascus, bound from Sydney to London, grounded between Durban and Capetown, but was refloated after a portion of the cargo had been jettisoned. Hex hull is seriously damaged. HEAVY WEATHER ON AUSTRALIAN COAST. Heavy weather prevails on the coast, adversely affecting the position of the Shamrock. If it continues ther chances of being refloated are poor. DROUGHT RELIEF FUND. A missionary from Fiji has brought £17 as tho contributions of his native congregation to the New South Wales Drought Fund. WOMEN LAWYERS FOR VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, April 4. Parliament has passed a Bill to enable women to practise the legal profession. A SIGNIFICANT ELECTION. (Received April sth, 6 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 5. The Tamworth election resulted in Mr Garland, the Opposition and Reform candidate, beating the Government nominee, Mr Walsh, by a handsome majority. Tho Labour candidate, Mr Thrower, who came third, was badly beaten. Tho Government are much disappointed and annoyed at the icsult, in which an unusual amount of interest was displayed. TELEGRAPHIC DELAY. The delay in the receipt of Saturday's Press messages was due to the faulty woiking of the Australian land lines, caused by bad weather. FEDERAL MILITARY BILL. (Received April 6th, 1.4 a.m.) MELBOURNE, April 5. ! Sir John Forrest states that tho Military Bill will contain a provision calling up the population in the event of invasion or other emergency. The coir.nu_ory system of military service is not r>ropcsed, nor will the militia bo permitted to operate outside the Commonwealth, but permanent soldiers must be prepared t s> go where they are sent. MYSTERIOUS DISEASE AMONG PIGS. (Received April 6th, 1.4 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 5. The veterinary surgeon of the Agricultural Department has discovered a mysterious disease affecting pigs. It ie highly infectious and fatal. EXODUS TO SOUTH AFRICA. MELBOURNE, April 5Largo numbers of people, mostly of the artisan class, continue to leave for South Africa by evcrv steamer.