AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5503, 2 March 1896, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

[Special to Press Association.] . THE PEARL DISASTER. v \- BRISBANE, March. 1. > The body of the boy O'Sullivan, a victim of the Pearl accident, has been recovered. THE QUEENSLAND SEPARATION LEAGUE. " BRISBANE, March 2. The Executive of the Separation League has decided to issue a manifesto urging the electors of the central division not to support any candidate not distinctly pledged to separation. QUEENSLAND FLOODS. Rains continue in the north. Serious damage has been done to the Clermont line. THE WEST AUSTRALIAN . RAILWAY BLOCK. PERTH, March 1. A large meeting at Fremantle carried resolutions urging the Government to end the block on the railway and ' telegraphic lines. The speeches, in the main, were strongly condemnatory of the Government's inaction in the matter. A motion was carried by a large majority demanding a complete reconstruction of the Cabinet. excessive heat; PERTH, March 2. Excessively hot weather ,has been experienced throughout the colony. There have been several cases of sunstroke at Fremantle, but none have proved fatal. ■'■■'. A NARROW ESCAPE. SYDNEY, March 2. The steamer Chilka, which is at Newcastle loading coal, had a narrow escape from a serious accident. A trimmer saw water rushing from the imgine-room, and discovered that it contained six or seven feet of water. It was found that the injectionpipe had not been closed down. The pumps were set going and kept the water down till the mishap could be remedied. THE AUSTRALIAN RIFLE TEAM. The Queensland and New South Wales Rifle teams are passengers by the Mararoa. VICTORIAN RAILWAYS. MELBOURNE, March 2. Mr Price Williams, the railway- expert, has written a second letter to the Premier, repeating the assertion that the permanent way between Melbourne and Wadgonga is in such bad condition that it is dangerous to run trains at express speed.