AUSTRALIAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12582, 20 January 1905, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

Unite<t Press Association—Per Electrift: 'J'eiesji-apt—Copyright. 1 THE BIRTH RATE. SYDNEY, January 19. The births in-New-South Wales last .year, numbered 38,697, the largest _ since 1897; the ratt being 26. IT pet 1000, compared with 25.28 in 1903. TROUBLE IN THE NEW HEBRIDES. - Reports from the Northern New Hebrides indicate that the natives are inclined to-further hostilitiesjagainst the-white-set-' tiers. A number o!t *anii6d Islanders recently made a threatening demonstration against _the Mission.- . It is also-re-ported that a trader who disappeared' wastomahawked. THE DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS. Dr Daysz estimates the cost of destroying- rabbits by his process—(a microbian culture) —at £l2 to £20"lor 2500 acres. EMPIRE DAY. MELBOURNE, January 19. The Earl of Meath has written to ilr Reid, the Federal Premier, concurring in the suggestion that Empire Day should be celebrated on the King's Birthday.' THE QUEENSLAND FLOODS. BRISBANE, January 19. A h'ekvy flood-is reported at Bundaberg. A-number of : settlers were rescued in boats. At - Rockhampton the wharves were flooded, and -much- damage ' was done to. property. "Latest reports state that the floods are subsiding. ROCKHAMPTON, January 19. _ .. The weather is now find; The river is steadily falling; The railway :is still flooded and .slightly .-damaged in places. The mail "train, is expected' to get away to-morrow. The river at Yaamba is 31 feet above normal and is rising 1£ inches per hour. ~ Dauringa reports a high flood in the river and ten inches of rain ; have fallen at Glencoe. ...