The herald., 1898-01-14
Brings News From South
Sea Regions
EARTHQUAKES AND STORMS
KILL SOME PEOPLE AND DO VAST
DAMAGE
Antipodean Notes on Political, In
dustrial and Sporting Subjects.
Improved Mail Service

Associated Press Special Wire
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1S.-The fol-
lowing Australian advices arrived To-Day
per steamship Alameda from Sydney'
via Honolulu:
A very severe shock Of earthquake was
experienced over the whole OF North
island and as far south as Christchurch'
N. T., early on the morning of December
Sth. Its duration was from one TO TWO
minutes and the vibrations from north
to south. At Wanganui chimneys were
leyeled in all directions and the main
water supply stopped. Several hssures
were also caused and subsistence oc-
Cured on the railroad, delaying traffic
A terrible storm broke upon the FIJI
islands on November 11th and again on
the 18th, the wind attaining veioclty oi
eighty-five miles an hour for some tirhe'
Several small vessels were blown ashore
and wrecked. Three of the Union COM
pany's steamers had narrow escapes
from similar fates, but put to sea ana
cruised about until the storm supsideo'
The mountain tribes of Goodenoush II
island RECENTLY attacked Thompson's
station there and after ooting the store
murdered four boys and speared num-
Der of other employees. The resident mag
istrate and force of fourteen armed po-
lice visited the scene for the purpose Oh
avenging the murders.
While hunting penguins on the Mac
quarie islands on December 9Th four men
were drowned by the accidental swamp
ing of their boat.
The bark Loongana, which arrived at
Sydney on December I'd, brought the
news of the drowning of Brother Ber-
nard, missionary, and eighteen natives
near the Gilbert islands. The mission
ary's party, in three canoes, was struck
by a squall, and all were lost.
AS a result of the recent conference
between the ministers for agriculture for
the various colonies a trial shipment of
apples and pears will be forwarded TO
London in the near future.
Reports from the country districts OF
Victoria show that the cyclonic storm OF
November 18th did immense damage,
scores of buildings being blown down
and many persons injured. The town OF
Mill especially suffered.
On December Sd Jack Griffiths OF Co.
bar, who held the worlds record, and
Prof. T. N. BaX of New Zealand engaged
in club swinging contest for the world
championship at Newcastle. Two-pound
clubs were used and according to the
conditions of the match not less thar
fifty revolutions per minute were to be
made. After both had swung the clubs
for forty-eight hours continuously the
match was declared draw.
Percy Cavill, upon his return to Sid
ney with the mile and five mile cham
pionships of the world to his credit. was
accorded a reception by the swimming
association of that city.
The British ship Nelson, from Liver
pool to Wellington, encountered very
severe weather in Cooks straits, her
life boats being smashed and some OF
her gear being carried away. Off Cape
Terawhiti she touched bottom, and
leaked so badly that she was in danger
of laundering. The steamer Tarawera
towed her to Wellington with some diff
ficulty.
Mexican, a New ealand amateur, re-
Gently ran half mile in one minute anc
80 seconds.
On November 20 H. Creamer estab-
lished a new worlds record for the mile
walk at the Auckland A. A. c. meeting
His time was minutes 27 3-5 seconds.
The gold yield for the month Of No
vember last was as follows: Queens
land rs, ,O24 ounces; West Australia, 1904
| ounces; Victoria, 70,177 ounces.
ANTIPODEAN MAIL
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 13.-Tht
much talked of fortnightly mail service
between Auckland and San Francisco
has at length been arranged, and will b.
inaugurated on April 1, according to ad
vices received by the steamship Ala
media today An understanding ha'
been reached between the Oceanic an'
| Canadian Australia lines whereby thu
steamers of the respective lines viii
leave Auckland and San Francisco
every IA days, alternately, the oceanic
steamers making the voyage in 10 day
and the Canadian liners in zig days.
Mail Agent Isbister of the Alameda
confirmed the news today. He says tina
the New Zealand legislature before th
Christmas adjournment, voted mini
mum annual subsidy of 97500 t.
establish the service. According to th
terms of the agreement the steamship
companies are TO receive los Cd pc
pound for letters, Sd for book packet
and Cd for newspapers.
Under the old arrangement the steam
ship companies received ~ S for letters
while all other mail went free, and tn
steamship people had to take what the.
could make. Now the New Zealant
government guarantees minimum o
1900 pounds per annum, and allows tn
steamship people to make all over tha
sum they can.