AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13761, 28 May 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph. Awociatioit—Copyright. LOSS OF A SCHOONER, (Received May £8, 1 a.m.) iStdnky, May 27. i Tub New Zealand-built, schooner Witlinga was, during a heavy gale, totally wrecked off Foil Stephens. The crew * were saved. A DISASTROUS FIRE. (Received May 28, 1 a.m.) Sydney, May 27. Three business places were destroyed b$ fire at Grafton to-day. The damage is estimated at about ,£20,000. THE NEW HEBRIDES. \ (Received May 28, i a.m.) > Sydney, May 27, News was received to-day that Sir Everard im Thurrij British Commissioner, for the Western /Pacific, will >' visit -the New Hebrides aboard M.S. Cambrian on June 12, to confer with the French Commissioner in respect to the now convention. MRS. ANNIE BESANT. (Received Slay 27, 1.15 a.in.) Fbbmantlk, May 27. Mrs. Annie Besant, the well-known writ or on theosophical subjects, arrived by tiie mail steamer from England to-day on a lecturing four. COLONIAL MUTUAL life company (Received May 27, l.la a.m.) / Sydney, May 27. The annual rejtort of the Colonial Mutual Life Company shows that for the year new policies were issued' assuring' £1,278,000, and yielding an annual income of £52,000, constituting a record for the society. The claims by death were £26,000 less- than for the previous year. Fair success had attended Iho issue of combined lii'e, accident, and invalidism policies. I'OST 1, AI) MINI SIR A T lON. Mki.hoi'SNK. May 27. The rejHH't of the Ministerial Oimmittee of Inquiry into the alleged disorganisation of the postal service wax tabled in the House of Representatives last It recommends a scheme of reforms, including the appointment of an independent board * of commissioners, a new system of finance, and more businesslike methods of administration. It further states that a very large ' proportion of complaints are based on incorrect information and exaggerated misrepresentation of facts. STANDARD'S EMPIRE SUPPLEMENT. Fremantlk, May 27. Mr. Henderson, a well-known journalist, and special representative of the Standard in connection with its new Empire supplement, arrived here to-day by the R.M.S. Mooltan. He visits various parts of Australasia on behalf of the Standard, and appoints special correspondents at the different capitals. WEST AUSTRALIAN GOVERNORVt.iN i.Y, May 27. Admiral Sir. Frederic Bedford, Governor of West Australia, has returned from his visit to England,