AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Mataura Ensign, 24 February 1909, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

SHELTERING ORPHANS. As stated in n recent cable representations have been made by the Minister for Lands in Victoria by Mr Leopold Sutto, an Italian gentleman now visiting Australia, that the Government authorities in Italy are desirous ol ascertaining whether, in the event of a number of youths who have been deprived of their homes in consequence of the recent earthquake in Sicily emigrating to Australia, they could obtain land for the. purpose of forming a settlement, and where they could bo educated in agricultural pursuits. The Minister is giving Mr Sutto, who is returning to Italy shortly, an open letter to the Government, stating that, in bis opinion, land could be made available for such a purpose, providing the authorities in Italy could give data as to their requirements and other particulars which would he necessary in order to come to a definite decision. WHAT IS A TRACTION KM.;INK!' The State Full Court of Victoria lias decided that a traction engine is nut a vehicle. A county council had charged a farmer with having used an engine on a main road. The local Court fined him 20s and costs. The Full Court, in upsetting this decision, held, on llie authority of a number of dictionaries, dial a vehicle is ''that in which anything is or may be carried; or is, as a secondary meaning, that which is used us the instrument of conveyance." \ traction (uigine, the Court considered, was not used for the purpose of carrying, even though it might carry a person who stood upon it. REMARKABLE WHIRLWIXD. '"At the residence of Mr Holland. Rorco Plains, at about 3.1"> on Monday, February 8 (stall's the Sydney 'Daily Telegraph') a storm of cyclonic force was seen in one of the neighboring paddocks, and as it apnea red to be approaching I he bouse the loors and windows were speedilv shut. Notwithstanding this precaution, however. the rooms were filled with dust. A colonial oven, weighing about S()]l> was carried clean over the house, rhenco through tin- head-of an acacia tree, chopping oil' several branches and dually almost severing the shaft of i Tnrpliv watereart upon which it land"d. A shed near by was completely unrooted, and sheets of iron were carried a distance of -tOOvds. Several visitors who happened to lie coining to the house lost their hats, and have not vet recovered tlieni."