AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2263, 8 December 1896, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN C ABLE.

■'_ ■ ■. ♦ _ . Phß ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH— -OOPYBIGHT. ; Per Press Association. THE STOCKTON TRAGEDY. , .. , Sydney, December 7. One. of the survivors of the Stockton catastrophe states that the exploring party were advancing when they heard a concession. Fearing that something might occur behind them, they began to retrace their steps, and had they done so five minutes earlier he believed that all would have escaped. He thinks that a rush of foul air was caused by the concussion. The rescue party acted with conspicuous bravery, but had it been stronger more of the unconscious men would have been got out. Sneddon, another of the men who was rescued from the Stockton colliery has died |r.om the effects of the fumes. , Tbwß Majror of Sydney is opening a relieflund.^ „"J .',■'.,*,, ...--■ . ■-.-.■■ SMALLPOX. A report lias been received from the Sacred .Heart Mission of New Britain that smallpox is ravaging the group, and that it has swept away vast numbers of the natives. Cannibalism is also rampant in some of the northern portions of the group. In one village over fifty natives were killed and eaten. SUICIDE. Melbourne, December 7, Arthur Bell, teller of the Ballarat branch, of the Commercial Bank, committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver..,.. Unrequited v affection was the cause of the deed. Cashed overboard, \ ■ As the Customs launch was crossing from iPorjb vMelbpurn? to . WiUiamstown a heavy sea awop't" over the stern of the vessel, taking the Customs officer and his wife overboard. The former was drowned but his wife was rescued in an exhausted condition. : THE COLONIAL SQUADRON. During nest year the Government have to decide what action tljey will take in /reference to the renewal of ; the agreement concerning the Auxiliary Squadron. If they agree to continue the present agreement, the visits of the :•*; vessels to Queensland,. 1 South Australia, and also Western Australia will n ha've' to be more frequent." Both South Australia and Queensland complain that they see very little of them. It is considered that the stipulation made by New Zealand that two vessels must always be in their waters is too great a concession compared with the small sum that that colony contributes towards ; the maintenance, .of the squadron. There is also someieeliug in regaid to Sydney's privileges as the head-quar-ters of the squadron. j THK MABAROA. Arrived^Mararoa, yesterday. ,