AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3587, 30 March 1886, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

♦ j (Br Telegraph.) (Per steamer at tho Bluff.) Melbodjjnb, March 23. On Friday evening last tho inhabitants of Lorn saw a burning ship a few milea from shore. This turned out to bo an American ship named the Paul Jones, which sailed from Melbourne that day bound for Calcutta, j Beports from those on board stato that after leaving Williamstown all went well till about noon when eomo of tho crew noticed a smell of smoke, but thought it was tho captain smoking m his cabin. Bu the increase of smoke dispelled sach a assumption, and they rushed to tno captain's cabin, but all was right there. The mate then opened tho lazaretto hatch, when the ship was immediately enveloped m clouds of smoke, which issued from the space below. Captain

Minn behaved with great coolness and intrepidity. He ordered the pumps to be rigged, and buckets to bo used. The boats were got ready and provisioned, and immediately put over the side. The volumuo of smoke increased rapidly, despito the exertions of the captain," officers, and crew. Soon the flames burst forth, enveloping the masts, but not till the tar on the deck wa3 melted, and the poop swayed beneath their feet, did they entertain thoughts of giving up the contest. At last when the heat became so intense that it was impossible to abate the fire, the captain ordered tho men to leave the ship. He himself was the last to leave her. The Antiope seeing the ilaines, made for the ship, and rescued the men from the boats. Tho steamer- Liguria also made to the ship and sent, boats to see if any persons were aboard, but. all were then safe on tho Antiope, and have since been brought to Melbourne. The Government steamer Dispatch was sent away early on Saturday morning m order to sink the vessel or otherwise remove her from the course of navigation. It waa found that she had been burned close to the waters edge. She gradually filled with water and disappeared. Abeiaide, March 23. A wholesale poisoning tragedy occurred yesterday m the house of Mr Oliver, Bordertown, nine persons being poisoned, two of whom are already dead. It appears that Mrs Oliver inadvertently took some arsenic left unlabelled by a painter, and put it into a pancake, of which all the family partook. Two children, aged bjx and seven, are dead. Two others are not expected to live many hours. Five others are thought likely to survive. The doctors were unremitting m their attention, but the poison spread through the patient's system before remedies could be applied. S?x>nby, March 23.

Considerable excitement has been caused here by the mysterious disappearance of Mr B. B. Holt, manager of the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand. Every nook has been hunted, but his whereabout is unknown. Ho was lost seen on Thursday evening. As Manager of the Bank ho won most assiduous m the discharge of his duties, and his business affairs are left m a most complete state. Conjecture cannot find a pretext for his disappearance. On his non-appear-ance at the Bank on Friday enquiries were made at his house, but Mrs Holt was m ft similar state of doubt. Sho had received a letter from her husband, but could give no information aa to his whereabouts. It appears that ;Mr Holt had been speculating heavily and disastrously lately on horse racing.