AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10404, 31 March 1897, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.—Electrin Telesraph.-Copyrigbt,

BUTLER'S CAREER.

Sydney, March 30. The Crown Law Department htw received from Mr. Lees, chief of the San Francisco detectives, a lengthy statement in reforenca to Butler's career. As a result of extended enquiries from former shipmates, who identified him, it has been gathered Mint Butler as Richard Ashe joined H.M.s. Sultan at Portsmouth in January, ISB2. Ho was with the Mediterranean fleet at tho bombardmenb of Alexandria, After returning to Portß« mouth, still under the name of Asho, ho joined the warship Liffey, which from 1883 to 1886 was stationed on the coast of Chili, He is supposed to have deserted there as in 1885, Lees discovered, he joined the Northwest Mounted Police of Canada. In July the Eame year as John McKnight lie joined the United States Cavalry stationed ,'.t Fort Wallawalla, but deserted in Sepleii-iier, 188 C. In February, 18S7, as George Acdersnn, he enlisted as a private at the Vancouver Barracks in tho Second, Regiment of Cavalry, but in May, J "B7, again dee •. ed. Under tho names of Ne.-; ■ man, Ashe; and Weller, Lees traces his career as a seaman on various ships, and his wanderings in America as already known up to the time of the arrival of tlia Swanhilda. Lees pointa out that in his investigations the name of Ashe mosb frequently occurs, and believes this is his true name. It has been ascertained that Batter is a We3t of England man. Leea adds that Butler'd enlistments in tho American army have been verified by letters from headquarters.

ORIGIN OF CORAL REEFS. Sydney, March 30. In May last the British Royal Society's expedition under Professor Soilas, visited the Ellice Island?, chiefly with the object of testing tho Darwinian theory as to th( formation of coral reef?. Tho expedition failed, owing to defective boring apparatus. Mr. . Gardiner, ono of the members, remained to study coral formation. He hat •now returned to Sydney. The result of his researches i i f"l the whole unfavourable ta Darwin's tiw-" tur '■ Hio corn' reefs have grown on snnkeii lai? J. Ho sees no necessity to assume the sinking if the land. It seems more feasible thab ths reefs grouped themselves round submarine mountains,probably of volcanic origin, the tops of which were never above tho sea. OLD AGE PENSIONS. Melbourne, March 30. The Old Age Pensions Commission ab its first sitting decided to obtain all the avail-. able, information regarding old age Boliemee, tnsludlng *Mm pmtiM ta'Mett ;sk®& and N§w South Wal?e,