ISLAND EPIDEMIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1141, 31 May 1911, Page 7

ISLAND EPIDEMIC.

FIVE HUNDRED DEAD ON ROTUMAH.

By TdcEraDh-rress Assoeialion-Ootrrlirbl

(Hoc. May 30, 11.5 p.m.)

Sydney, May 30. The Island slcamcr briiigs news of a disastrous epidemic of measles and dysentery among the natives of Hotuniah Island, 300 miles north-west of the Fiji Group.

Tho epidemic lias been, raging for two months, and some of tho villages were almost decimated.

It is estimated that the population lias been reduced from 24G0 to barely 1900. The bulk of the fatal cases were amongst the young nnd strong portion of tho population, the elderly natives largely escaping.

GENERAL CABLEGRAMS By Telcßraph-Press Assoclalion-Copyrleht

KING ATTENDS EMPIRE CONCERT.

(Rec. May 30, 11.25 p.m.) T1 T~ , - London, May 30. w i K ,.? B {""iPneen and the Prince of YV ales attended the Empire concert at tho H.M.S. INFLEXIBLE DOCKED. mi . London, May 30. Ihe cruiser Inflexible, which collided yes erdav at Portland with tho battleship Bellerophmi, has been docked at Portsmouth. It is believed that tho ve"el re?ie!f onTm^o" 0 ' 0 " CorO " atToU NEW SOUTH WALES ASSEMBLY.. " Vv v-n m i s y dni! y. May 30. aii.-K. D. Meagher, member for Phillip mitteeT" rC ' electcd Chairman of ConV VICTORIAN SAVINGS BANK LOAN, mi i , Melbourne, May 30. of h»lf » V° r 1 1 ,0 f Minss Ha & lQau ot half a million at 3 per cent, with a nmiimum of m .have been opened. The public tendered for .CIGI.GOO at an average qt j>96 Is. Gd., the Savings Bank Co" missioners taking the balance at par. SYDNEY TUGBOATS. r, ~ , „ Sydney, May 30. Evidence before the Industrial Court has disclosed the fact that tho tugboats "' . s J d fy,■»« run at a loss. This is stated to be dna to tho severity of tho competition, and the disappearance of sailing vessels. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.' n ,n , Sydney, May 30. One of the first examples of tho use of wireless telegraphy for general purposes has been afforcfed by the Ulimaroa. I message sent when the vessel was 500 miles from port was delivered within half an hour of its dispatch. POLICING THe'pACIFIC. „ Sydney, May 30. By arrangement with the Admiralty, the. warship Torch has been detailed to police the waters of. British possessions and protectorates in the Pacific. (.The Torch is a sloop of 360 tons, six guns, and with a speed of 13J knots. Sho was built in 1894.] COLD SNAP IN SYDNEY. „,. ■ , Sydney, Mny 30. The thermometer in Sydney this morning registered 41 degrees Faur. This is the lowest reading since 1872. Snow has fallen in many inland districts. [This message, as received from tho Press Association,, is incorrect, as the lowest temperature ever recorded in Sydney was 35.9 degrees Fahr. on July 12, 1890. Presumably the Press, Association agent means that the temperature is the, lowest recorded in May since 1872/ Tho'lowes't May reading on record is 40.2 degrees, registered on May 22, 1859.] RED TAPE L\ SYDNEY. Sydney, May 30. In giving evidence before the Works Department Commission, a witness, in illustrating the delay in getting orders passed by the Department for supplies, instanced a case where no fewer than forty-eight operations had been necessary. ITZEHOE A TOTAL WRECK. • Sydney, May 30. The Underwriters Association has been advised that the German-Australian liner Itzehoe, which recently went ashore m Algoa Bay, is a total wreck, and that there is little hope of salvage. . CORONATION VISITORS. London, Mny 29. The. following members of the Federal Parliament have arrived for tho Coronation:—Sir John Quick, Hon. A. Poynton, Mr. W. Johnson, and Senators Vardon, Long, and Sayers. ■A CONGO REFORMER'. ~ , London, May 29. Men of,widely divergent political and" religious yiews have presented Mr. E. D. Morel, honorary secretary of the Congo Reform Association, with a cheque for -.£11)00 in recognition of his services in securing reforms in the Congo. POST FOR MR, A. C. BENSON. London, May 29. The Royal Society of Literature has instituted a Chair'of English fiction and appointed Mr.'A. C. Benson thereto. [Mr. Arthur Christopher Benson was born in 18G2. Ho is n son of a late Archbishop of Canterbury, and for eight years was a master at Eton College. He has written poetry, essays, nnd biography.] SEVERE PUNISHMENT. Paris, May 29. A woman who had been eking out a precarious livelihood by making cigarettes from Government tobacco, thereby infringing a monopoly, was fined .£4702, in default two years' imprisonment. CENSUS AND REPRESENTATION. Melbourno, May SO. The latest census returns indicate the probability of Victoria losing a member in the House of Representatives and Queensland gaining one. A DISPUTE ENDED. Sydnoy, May 30. Tho dispute between the Great Cobar Copper Company and the Railway Commissioners regarding weighing has been settled. The terms havo not becu disclosed. JAVA FREE FROM PLAGUE. Sydney, May 30. A private cable announces that Sourabaya, Java, has been declared free from plague. A LUCKY ESCAPE. Sydney, May 30. A miner fell a distance of 120 ft. in a shaft at Broken Hill, and escaped with only a scalp wound. A SERIOUS MATTER TO COUNTRY RESIDENTS Is tho uncertainty of the safe arrival at its destination of furniture, ac., purchased iu the city, owing in many cases to careless or insufficient packing. Those about to furnish are invited to inspect the great Furniture Warehouse of Shortt'e, Ltd., of Willis Street, Wellington, who thoroughly pack (free of charge) nil goods purchased from them. Every caro is taken, and during tho 20 years that this firm has been established they have not had one complaint of carelessness in packing, but havo received hundreds of testimonials both' as regards to the care that has been taken and the high quality and exceptional finish of their goods. Every article is mado at their own factory, and they are, tlie-o-fore, in a position to sell <t bedrock prices. Send for catalogue to Sliorlt's, Ltd., Country Department, Wellington.— Advt.