AUSTRALIAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13218, 23 February 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—^Copyright. THE MAIL .STEAMER. SYDNEY, February 22. The Ventura was docked to-day for a thorough overhaul of. her machinery. Until this is complete the date of her departure will not be fixed. THE PLAGUE. / Another case of plague is repcrled.•' • OBITUARY Mr'H. C. Russell, late Goyernmeut astronomer; aged 71, THK LAND HUNGER. . As .illustrative- of the great, demand for larid 1000 persons applied for fourteen Government' sub-div:'i>ions . of. farms in the Wagga district, aggregating 6800 acres. NEW GUINEA. MELBOURNE, February 22. Captain Barton, Administrator of Papua, has been granted twelve months' leave of absence. Judge Murray, Chief Justice of Tapua, acts as Administrator till Parliament reassembles in July, when complete proposals regarding the territory will be submitted. FEDERAL NAVAL DEFENCE. , Mr Esplin, head of a. well-known, firm of naval architects, wlro accompanied Mr Trevisa Clark to the colonies, will interview the Minister of Defence in reference to the construction of torpedo boats, and destroyers. * BOUND FOR LONDON. The Federal Premier, Mr Deakiu, sails for London on March sth. THE EXPERIMENTS ON RABBITS, ; Dr Tidswell, in an interim report on the rabbit virus experiments,. states that, so far iis investigations have gone there is nothing to suggest that ill el virufl wi'.l attack other animals than rabbits, or that it is likely to escape from Broughton Island. POPULATION STATISTICS. ADELAIDE. February 22. The population of the State on December 31st last was 380,245; an increase for the year of 5847. ALLEGED GOLD STEALING. • PERTH, February 22. The reporli of the Commissioner on the alleged gold stealing finds that there is no direct evidence of stealing; but recommends more stringent legislation. STRIKE OF PRISONERS. Forty-six prisoners at Fremantle gaol refused "to work as a protest against one of it-heir number being Hogged while allegedly 'in ill-health. After considerable delay the malcontents obeyed orders. An inquiry will be held.