Australian papers coming to hand, vid Colombo, contain full reports of the stranding of the P. & O. Co.'s Australia on Point Nepean, near Melbourne, on 20th June.
The most important statement is that of Captain Cole. "We passed Point Lonsdale beacon at about 20 minutes to 2 o'clock," he said in describing the occurrence. "A few minutes previously we had taken a pilot on board from the pilot steamer Alvina, and were than, as I judge it, about five milos from the Rip. Our trip up to that point hnd been @ record one, the trip from Fremantle to Adelaide being accomplished in 83 hours. Consequently, we anticipated being in earlier than us tial. The vessel was steaming 145 knots an hour, and I was on duty on the bridge with the pilot. The vessel struck without any warning. The pilot wanted to give the order " Full speed astern " to the engine-room immediately, but I declined to do so. The engines stopped immediately, and I then gave the order to close the watertight bulkheads, and get the boats ready. There was not the slight-
Education in the Far East," until it was close on to midnight, end Gen. Corbin, °* hegemp arp Set par paces—who had burst his shirt-front trying to he stewards were called out, and order-hold in un eloquent speech upon "The oq to go round the cabins and see Army "—was only able to get in two oF, the passengers got up and wore provided three words edgewise, with lifebeits. There was no hurry about Rear-Admiral Frederick Rodgers must ° these arrangements, as we felt that the have been warned in time, as he was not ' vessel was firmly fixed, and we knew that there at all to respond to the toast of the boats were safe if we had to resort to The Navy." But Toastmaster Ford them. The boats on the starboard side loomed up grandly in this emergency. yore lowered first—six in all—the crew Ho suid that dlespitotho prudentrestraints Petting them out without difficulty. Then of diplomatic reserve and neutrality he: the bots on the port side were lowered, could not refrain from calling upon Capt. Isam Takashita, of the Japanese Navy.
'The Captain' rose up from Table E. He is a handsome, boyish-looking Jap, and speaks broken English with a rapid fire-gun articulation that is irresistible. He said "We Japanese go in for quick action and decisive result. I ask you all to join me in a' Banzai for the navy."
That was all—but it aroused @ typhoon of cheers, and must have cost Sherry a! pretty penny for broken glasses. i including a collapsible boat. 'The second officer (Mr. Perey Cooper) was sent ashore in charge of a small boat to give information of the occurrence to the agents. The passengers were got into the starboard boats quietly, and without any fuss, and refreshments' were served out to them as they sat there waiting to be taken off. One of the first orders that I gave after the vessel struck was to burn blue lights. We continued burning lights and sending up rockets until about 3 o'clock, when there was an answering rocket from Point Lousiale lighthouse, followed by another at Queenscliff, After a long wait a lifeboat arrived, and the passengers were safely embarked and taken ashore." Captain Cole was silent as to the cause of the disaster, leaving the question to be decided at an inquiry.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.