AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13782, 22 June 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright LOSS OF THE BEGA., j -'.> : 3 (Received Jane 21, 8.2 p.m.) ' _ StDNKY, June 21, The Marine Court has found that the immediate cause t-i the loss of the Illawars Steam Navigation ...Company's steamer . Bega was the presence 'of water in the ship, but how it got there was a mystery. The captain and officers, when they realised the f danger, did all that was possible to save life. The Court, was not satisfied that there had, as alleged, been improper stowage of cargo..'. " MELBOURNE SERVICE. Mr.ijiovnyK, June 20. . The Premier, Mr. Bent, ha* received a cable' from Fiji slating that the Govern- - ment, subject, to the approval of tbfl Secretary of State, proposes to vote £6000 to subsidise direct steamers between. Mel- , ; bourne and Fiji. i'i SELLING LIQUOR ON A SHIP. Sydney,, June 20. The chief steward of the Union Company's steamer Moeraki lias been pro- • ceeded against for selling wine to two passengers after the steamer v.as moored. Counsel for the defence raised the point V; that the Moeraki was on a foreign register and was not subject to local law, also . that the owners were exempt under the Liquor Control Act, as the sale was made before. the wine was landed; and, there- '. fore, the seller need not take out a pac- o: ket license. Decision wa» reserved. . CONDEMNED SLEEPERS. Sydney, June 20. Two shipments, aggregating 20,000 sleepers, sent to South Africa, were re-, jected on arrival there, although passed : , by the Government inspector „bere as be- '':*}■ ing in accordance with the specifications. The Government is communicating with • the. authorities: in South Africa.