Australian News.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6848, 25 March 1897, Page 3

Australian News.

REMARKABLE ESL'AI'E. An extraordinary escape from instant death occurred during a thunderstorm which passed over the Koroit district (Victoria) a few days since. Mr A. Baulch, a farmer at Warrong, was working at a little distance from his residence, and, in order to obtain some shelter from the rain, he stationed himself beneath a Urge gum tree. He had hardly been there a minute when the tree was struck by lightning, and he was knocked down

unconscious. He remained in this state for some time. When he came to he found that the tree had completely disappeared, all that was visible being some splinters, which were scattered far and wide. The strange part of the matter is that Mr Bulch. beyond being stunned for a time, is not at all the worse for his alarming experience.

MELBOURNE AQUARIUM. The Melbourne Aquarium has been enriched by the addition of a flock of King Penguins, brought by Mr Joseph Hatch's ketch Gratitude from the Macquarrie Islands. The birds, which had a very rough passage over, being under hatches and without food for 32 days, were, as might be expected, a little "droopy," but, on a plentiful diet of fresh fish, have now quite recovered, although they are much thinner than when they staited, having lived on their own fat. The birds have been placed in the outdoor seal tank, where they disport themselves, evidently on friendly terms with the seals, who do not attempt to molest them. They are very intelligent, and very beautifully marked, the back being blue, front pure white, whilst the head is colored dark purple and orange.—Arsus. a brave seven-year-old boy. Particulars respecting a fire a A. Jar vis's house, Corunnun, (Vic.) show that the attention of a little boy, seven yearS old, a son of Mr Jarvis, was first drawn to the fire, and he immediately rushed inside the burning house to effect the rescue of an infant, nine months old, sleeping in one of the rooms. The plucky fellow was almost blinded with smoke, but as he was aware of the whereabouts of the cradle he groped his way to it, and succeeded in rescuing the baby, and safely conveyed it outside the burning house. His parents were away working in an onion paddock.

"WHY DID THEY MARRY 1

An odd divorce case was heard by Mr Justice 11 Simpson at Sydney last week. The petitioner was Annie Miller, who sought a divorce from her husband, Eric William Henry Ernest Miller, engineer, on the ground of desertion. The petitioner's evidence was that prior to her marriage she had been living with her people in Melbourne. Having come to Sydney on a visit, she lived with some friends at a restaurant. While staying there she met the respondent, and a marriage was arranged between them, to take place on the day she was to return to Melbourne. They went to church, and were married, and on returning to the restaurant they had dinner together. Subsequently her husband accompanied her on board the steamer, and saw her off. In answer to question, Mrs Miller said that she put off getting married until the very day she was going back to Melbourne because when she came to Sydney she never contemplated becoming married, and her husband was afraid if she went back she might get someone else. She did not know what had become of her husband. There was no reason why she should get married. His Honor granted a decree nisi for the dissolution of the marriage.