AUSTRALIAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13915, 28 May 1909, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

PT <mlTelegraph-Copyright MIfsHAP TO H.M.S. POWERFUL. Sydney,- ara y 27. A\hue 11. M.S. Powerful, (ho (lags' l3j * > ,c Australian squadron, was undergoing an overhaul, :i fracture uf the shafting of the port engine was discovered. It is supposed that it occurred 011 the voyage from Hobart. Its omoval may possibly interfere with the Poworful's intended ( . ni iso to Fiji. TRA XS-CONTI NEXT A L RAILWAY. As a result, of a preliminary survey, the cost oi tlio Trans-ConHncntal rail-, way is estimated at £4.359,000. The soil generally is. described' as.. K ood. There are 110 engineering difficulties, and 110 lack-of water is, anticipated PLAGUE-STRICKEN RATS. Mure plague-stricken, rat,4 have been found at Port Adelaide. An active anti-rat crusade is progressing. GOVERNMENT ASTRONOMER. Mr G. Dowdell. has :beeh appointed Government .astronomer..,. > THE NEW ARCHBISHOP. Archdeacrtii Wright; 6f Manchester, was elected Archbishop-of 'Sydney by an unanimous- rote-of-both 'orders' and in the aggregate.. . • NEW . GUINEA LANDS MELBOURNE, May 27. A return shows that altogether 20,598 acres of Pa.paun lands have been taken up under the freehold, and 212,390 under the leasehold. POPULATION RETURNS. A return shows that last year . the number of persons admitted to the Commonwealth, who were not asked 'to pass the dictation test, was 75,670, including 74,374 of British origin, New Zealand supplying 26,394. The Chinese numbered .1771, Japanese 414,' and other 'Asiatics -430. ■ /The,, coloured persons who departed. totalled 4040, including Chinese 427, Japanese 521, and Papuans 308, wlijle 108 were refused admission,', including ,8Q