Grost interest has been aroused locally over the arrival of the Loongana, the first turbine steamer built for service in Austra asian waters, The vessel which arrived about fortnight ago, has slrexdy commenced her career in the Melbourne-Leunceston trade, She is a handsomely modelled vessel of about 2,000 tons gross measurement and draws about 12 feet of mater when loaded. The machinery consists of three turbines, exch driving one propeller; the high pressure engine being placed amidships. For use in narrow waters or manovring, the contro one is shut off the versal is then worked ne a twin scrow. The total horse spewer developed when running at full speed is about 7,000, The Loongana made the run out from the Clyde in a trifle over 32 days, actual steaming, but no attempt was made at record-breaking. After docking he run was made over a twenty-one mile course in the Bay; the distance being accomplished in sixty-five minutes. The initial Melbourne-Launceston trip was made in fifteen and a-half hours, A Chinese Faction Fight.
Certain stiff fines imposed by the City Court on sundry Chinese sly grog-zellers was the cause of a fine, healthy fight in the Chinese quarter some three weeks 'TDhere are two principl Chinese societ in Melbourne, the Bo Leong and Gee Hing respectively, between whom at times little of brotherly affection is displayed. The grog-sellers referred to belonged to the former Society, and evidence Irading to their* conviction had been tendered by some of the Gee Hing members. Indigna~ tion thereat waxed strong with the Bo Leongs, and the yarn goes that they offered £100 to anyone who would lay.out the principal informer. Undeterred these threata, one fine evening, 30 Gee ings wended their way to the Bo Leong fan-tan shops. The Geo Hing attitude assumed on this occasion was the one span necessary to start the conflagration, and in stow moments it became what sporting scribes would call a willing-go. Sticks and knives were freely used, and the fight was transferred to the street, where the gallant, Bos sven began to yet the worst of it. pt! At this juncture the police came on the scene, and took a hand at the game. Charging the scattered groups of fighters with batons and handcuffs, five constables succeeded in stopping the riot, although fecistance had been called "from. the barracks. When the battlefield was eventually cleared the wounded were collected and driven to the Melbourne Hospital for repairs. Eight Celeatials were found to have been seriously injured, whilst numerous other cases received
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.