AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14110, 12 July 1909, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

THE MISSING LOCH LOMOND.

Mr. Wade, the New South Wales Premier has written to Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co. suggesting that the captains of their Island steamers might be asked to keep a look-out for castaways at the New Hebrides. It seems that a ' few weeks ago a lifebuoy, with the name "Loch Lomond" painted on it, was picked up in the New Hebrides, and the relatives of some of - the members of the crew thought it possible that, tidings of castaways might be heard of in the Islands. Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co. have acceded to the request of the Premier, and a circular letter has been sent to the shipmasters employed in the Island trade, asking them to keep a, look-out. There seems little hope, however, .of anything being heard of the missing ship and her crew. The Loch Lomond disappeared nearly 12 months ago, while on a voyage from Newcastle to LytteHcn, and is supposed to have gone down with all hands off the North Cape, New Zealand, a quantity of wreckage having been washed ashore there. The lifebuoy found in the New Hebrides was evidently carried across the Pacific by the currents, and cast ashore at the Islands.

MARRIAGE OF MRS. BROUGH. The friends of Mrs. Brongh—and their name is legionwill be interested to learn (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph, of Wednesday last) that, she was married yesterday morning to Mr. Charles Bell, the electrician of the company with which Mrs. Brough has been playing. Rumors of the impending marriage have been afloat, for some time, but the actual ceremony was very quietly performed. The Rev. W. Newmarch was the officiating clergyman. Mrs. Bell, mother of the bridegroom, gave away the bride, and the party, after the ceremony, drove away from St. Andrew's Cathedral. > Mrs. Brough has been before the public now for so many years, first as Miss Florence Treveiyan, and then as the wife of a popular actor-manager, the late Mr. Robert Brough, that her name is a household word throughout all Australia, and this quietly-contracted second marriage will cause everybody to offer the bride warmest congratulations. _ % LORD CHELMSFORD ON THE ' SABBATH. ' Speaking in Sydney last week on the occasion of laying the foundation-stone of a church, the State Governor (Lord Chelmsford) bad a few remarks to make on Sabbath observance. In the hurry and pressure of business and other work we were too apt to neglect the spiritual needs of mankind, and of the means of caring for them which was provided by the observance of one day in seven as a day of rest. He did not wish to deal with the religious aspect of this question so much as the fact that it was universally admitted that the rest was necessary as a recuperative measure. How the day should be kept was a matter for one's own conscience, and he would not think of dictating to anyone. But great men in all ages had agreed that the day of rest was a necessity. Gladstone, who was a busy man all his life, made it a rule of life to do no work on Sunday. And this rule he kept during the whole of' his long life. Two other - instances might be cited—-Lord Cairns and Lord Selbourne, both of whom rose to the position of Lord Chancellor, and both made it a rule that no official or professional work should be done on the Sabbath. Many might say that they preferred to keep the day , of rest with their families on the harbour or elsewhere. That was a matter for their own conscience, but they should re-, member that it was possible that in exercising their own rights they might possibly infringe those of others. - If we had the right to use Sunday as a day of rest in our : own way we must see to it that it was not a way which forced work on others. AUSTRALIAN COINAGE. . It is anticipated by the Federal Treasurer (Sir John Forrest) that the first issue of the new Australian silver coinage will be made at an earlier date than has been announced. Probably a consignment of new coins will be available for issue to the banks in about four months' time. The design for the new coins will be left largely in the hands of the Imperial Mint authorities and the Commonwealth representative in London (Captain Collins). On one side will be the King's head; on the other something distinctly Australian, possibly a design enclosing the word Australia. With the view of expediting matters, and realising . the profit on the new mintage as early as possible, Captain Collins will be authorised by cable to agree to a design., The dies will thereupon be struck, and the minting of the coins undertaken without delay. CHILDREN'S BODIES EXHUMED. The exhumation of .the bodies of three children, Annie May Morris, aged 10 years, Olive Lilian Morris, 8 years, and Arthur Joseph Morris, aged 14 years, was carried out at Karrakatta (West Australia) Cemetery on Saturday week, by the police authorities. The children, who died at different times between July, 1907, and" October, 1908, were attended by Dr. Cuthbert.. The symptoms in each case were similar, consisting of throat affection and bowel trouble, and although the illness puzzled the medical attendant and others who were brought, in for consultation, certificates of death from hemorrhage and cardiac failure were given. The children ; belonged to Thomas Morris, carpenter, who came from South Australia seven Or eight years ago, and was followed by his wife and five children a year or so later. : The domestic relationship ■> was strained after her arrival, and about three years ago. Morris left his wife, taking five children with him- He went to live at East Perth, where he was joined by a woman named Martha Morton. The illness of the children and subsequent deaths then occurred. In April last George Morris, the youngest surviving eon,, ran away from home, and the father reported his disappearance to the" police. The boy was found living with his mother at Subiaco, and in consequence of statements made by him the police began an investigation which led to the exhumation of the bodies. The mother of the children, who is separated from her husband, was present at the grave , to identify the bodies, but she collapsed at the first glance and remained prostrate on the ground for a considerable time. , . THE CABMAN'S LESSON, The committee of the Lismore (New South Wales) Municipal Council has suspended a cabman's renewal license for one month, as punishment for alleged overcharge of a fare, and ordered the refund of 2s. A PROTRACTED VOYAGE. The Denbigh Castle, which has been most unfortunate ever since she left Cardiff in October last year, with a cargo for Mollendo, West Coast of South America, put into Fremantle (West Australia) in distress, last week, but left again a few 1 days later. Captain Evans is taking the ship via New Zealand, and when the Den- ' bigh Castle has reached her destination she will have travelled all round the world. '•• The skipper anticipates to make the voyt age to Mollendo in about 60 or 70 days. However, in case misfortune, again sets m, . the ship has been provisioned for a five months' trio. ■