AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13983, 12 February 1909, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

CHILD IN A WELL.

A child of four years, the daughter of Mr. Francis Dalton Carroll, of Gordon, Victoria, had a narrow escape from drowning last week. She was playing near her home, when she fell into a well about 12ft deep, which contained some Bft of water. The accident was witnessed by another sister, about eight years of age, who raised an alarm, and her brother, aged 14, ran to the rescue. In his endeavour to pull the child out, he also fell into the well, but managed to keep himself afloat by clinging to the sides. In the meantime Mr. Dan. Fitzgerald appeared on the scene just in the nick of time, and rescued the girl. When brought to the surface the child was black in the face, and apparently lifeless, but restoratives were immediately applied, with the result that she speedily recovered. The boy was lifted out of the well little the worse for his experioce. DIED ON LEAVING HOSPITAL. The Melbourne Hospital authorities had a rare experience last week, when a patient died on the front steps of the institution as he was leaving it. The man's name was Thomas Birmingham. He had been sufferiiigjirom heart disease, and had been a patient at the hospital since January 12. During the last few days, however, he had become uneasy, and anxious to return home. Last week his wife called for him, and against the advice of the authorities Birmingham left with her. The sick man and his wife walked only a few yards from the door of the hospital, however, as Birmingham fell dead on the steps. Before starting to leave the institution Birmingham signet! a declaration saying that he was going of his own free will, and ho exonerated the authorities from blame in connection with anything which might result from his departure. FIRE AT ALLORA. An extensive lire, by which a large portion of the business centre of Allora (Q.) was destroyed, took place last week. The fire originated in Messrs. Grimes and Elson's store. The buildings damaged were Sievenhausen's tailoring shop and dwellinghouse, N. Saunders' refreshment rooms, I*. Donovan's auction mart, M'rs. Williams' stationery and jeweller's shop, J. Rouse's saddler's shop. Afterwards it spread to Scott and Co.'s large establishment, and it then extended to E. Nehlsen's, tobacconist. At one time the gravest fears were entertained that Barnes and Co.'s large store would be attacked, in which case the fire would almost have had the whole town at its mercy; but by strenuous exertions this was prevented. Grimes and Elson lost everything. Insurances in all cases were far below the actual loss occasioned. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. A Brisbane message states that Captain R. S. Taylor, surveyor to Lloyd's Register, and to the N.D. L. Company, has completed an investigation into the circumstances attending the outbreak' •of fire on tho steamer Tubingen. He expressed the opinion that the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion. In his report he says: —"The fire originated in the lowest four tiers of wool which were stowed in the hold. The. outbreak spread upwards until it reached the scoured wool on the top, amongst which it burnt with greater intensity. There appears to have been no breach of the regulations against smoking in the hold of the vessel. The Tubingen left at four o'clock on the morning of January 30 for Antwerp', Bremen, and Hamburg. Altogether 1022 bales of wool were damaged by fire and water, and this wool was left behind to be reconditioned, and will be shipped in the' Gottingen this month. INDIAN PENSIONERS." The Federal Minister for External Affairs (Mr. Batchelor) has under consideration an interesting suggestion relating to the settlement in Australia of pensioners from Ind'a. Captain Holden, a retired Indian army officer, who is now in Australia, has i suggested to the Minister that the Commonwealth Government might arrange to take over from the Imperial authorities the payment of pensions to retired military and civil servants employed by the. Indian Government who settle in Australia. Captain Holden's idea, said the Minister, is that these settlers should be supplied with land and advanced money to build homes; the Government to recoup itself from the pensions. He states that from 4000 to 5000 military and civil servants retire annually in India, and he believes that about 1000 of these would make their way to Australia each year if sufficient encouragement were given tot them to do so. The Minister states that he intends to bring the matter before the Cabinet for consideration.