THE COMMONWEALTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14361, 6 February 1911, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH.

Press Association—By Tel.—Copyright.

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCES. MELBOURNE, Feb. 4. Senator Pearco, Minister of Defence, proposes to ask tho Admiralty for tho temporary use of the cruiser Pyscho as a training skip for the Australian Navy. He will also ask tho Admiralty to recommend an officer to act as director of the Naval College. Recruits for service are coming in well. HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODS. SYDNEY, Feb. 4. Heavy general rains are again falling and there is heavy weather on the coast. Reports from the flooded districts of Queensland show that hoavy rain continue, the rivers are rising rapidly, and large areas of low-lying country are inundated. Railway communication is bndly interrupted. Big floods are anticipated in all tho lower-lying parts. Rockliampton is covered with water. Tiie AVorrego river at Charlevillo ia over the bridges, and tho country round is inundated. At Augatholla the water is knee deep in tho main street. Through a storm in tie Mediterranean fifteen vessels, with thirteen men, also a number of fishing boats, are missing at Catalonia. The French cruiser Waldeck Rousseau, while making steam trials, struck a rock or wreckage, and with her hull full of water, she steered to port for repairs.

i Irish Might oontmwss to spread in i Victoria. Twelve potato areas aro i quarantined. The final meotinß of the Labour Day Demonstration Committee was held in Hutchison's rooms on Saturday evening It was decided on the motion of Messrs Kohler and Mieknell thnt. after paving accounts and donating £1 to the funds to each of the bands which bad assisted, the residue (£1 4s 7d) should be handed over to tho Society - for the Promotion of Cfca Health 9t and Childrnn.