AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9488, 18 April 1894, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.— Telegraph.— VESSELS IN COLLISION. Melbourne, April 17. Thk steamer Konoowarra, which was in collision off Green Cape, yesterday, with the ship Titania, has reached port safely. Her funnel was guyed in position by block and tackle. The port side of the vessel, from amidships right aft is a complete wreck, the iron railings, rigging, deckhouses, and soats being swept away, while the port lifeboat was smashed to matchwood. During the collision, one of the seamen belonging to the steamer jumped overboard, and it is supposed another was swepb off the deck by the ship's rigging. The steamer Glaucus, which is towing the disabled ship Titania to Sydney, has signalled from J ervis'Bay, that she has two sailors belonging to the Konoowarra on board. The captain of the Konoowarra, says that he saw the ship Titania eight miles off. After passing Green Cape he called the second officer's attention to the vessel when the latter took charge of the bridge. He then went to tea. While he was away the collision occurred. After getting clear of the ship he found that several of the firemen had rushed the boat and lowered it. One man got away in her, and the steward jumped on board the ship. Finding the steamer was making no water, the Captain endeavoured to find the missing boat, but without avail, and as the Titania held on her course, he decided to go on to Melbourne. FRENCH NEW HEBRIDES.COMPANY. Sydney, April 17. News from Noumea states that a cable has been received, announcing that th« French Government had voted a subsidy of four hundred thousand francs per annum for a period of fifteen years to the French New Hebrides Company. THE CLYDE RIVER RUSH. Sydney, April 17. The Clyde River rush has proved a duffer, and is nearly deserted. Much destitution is prevalent. The diggers are eating corn in cobs, and the majority are begging bheir passages back to town. FREIGHTS TO LONDON. Melbourne, April 17. The Premier predicts there will be a large reduction in freights to London next season on grain and agricultural products. GOLD DISCOVERY IN TASMANIA Hobart, April 17. A splendid lode has been found on the King River tributary mine at Lynchford. One dish gave two pounds weight of gold, including one piece a pound weighb. LOWERING THE RECORD. Perth, April 17* In a walking contest at Albany one of the competitors named Clark lowered the world's record for 10 miles by three and a quarter minutes. WARNING TO DIGGERS. Perth, April 17. Bad news has been received from Kur« nalpi, where two thousand diggers have been compelled to leave owing- to the failure of the water supply. A greab many of the men are in a state of semi-starvation. People are warned against flocking there until the rainy season sets in. Provisions are also running short at Coolgardie, and any big rush will make a famine ineiritable.' A POLITICAL PAMPHLET. Melbourne, April 17. The political pamphlet was issued under the authority of the Commissioner of Works, and both the Premier and the Colonial Treasurer disclaim any knowledge of it. The writer is an engineer connected with the Echuca Irrigation Trust. '■ FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, April 17. The Burdekin river is again in flood J and ' *• ; a whole family, whose house was under water, were on a raft for twelve hours before being rescued. .Another party book six days bo convey a desperately injured , man to the hospital. They suffered greab privations on the' journey.