AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2835, 28 July 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

GREAT FIRE IN SYDNEY- : EXCITING SCENES IN BIG HOTEL TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS V (By Telcgra.ph--Pr.cßS Association-Copyright Sydney, July 27. A firo destroyed the premises of James Stedman,. Ltd., confectioners. The out. break was marked by terrific explosions, which caused the flames to spread to the. adjoining premises, fine Grand Centrnl Hotel, aud Edwards's, and :Dunlop's warehouses suffered slight damage as the result. The firo was the hrgest in the , city for many years. The fire is still burning, but is well It* land. A rough estimate of the damogo runs into six figures. (Kcc. July 27, 6.55 p.m.) ' Sydney, July 2*7.' Th& Grand Central Hotel was crowded with boarders, 'and many escaped in their night-clothes, in the chilly morning. The adjoining streets were crowded with tn'cir belongings. .... At the timo of the outbreak, Stedman and his wife were at a-hospital attending the deathbed of their son, and were not aware of tho fire. After his death they made their way to tho scene, und discovered the double misfortimo that had befallen them. The brigade made a splendid save. It was a difficult job. Stedman's was a throe-story building, with wide floorspace, stretching-from Clarence Street to. Kent Street, packed with highly inflammablo material, and much valuable machinery,'and surrounded on all sides by big buildings. Stedman's was gutted, right through. The Hotel Grand Central was severely damaged, fifty ,or sixty rooms on tho upper floors by fire, anil ulmost the wholo building was saturated with water. Edwards's, and the Dunlop Company's warehouse on one side of Stedman's, and David Mitchell and Co/a on the other, were slightly ! damaged by fire. Both ».ro heavy losers t>y water damage. Others. who suffered to a less . extont were Parsons Brothers, jam manufacturers, and Wollen'6 soap faotory. Tho falling walls disorganised the teelpnone and telegraph sorvice. ' There was great excitement in th& Grand Centril Hotel. Tho sleepers on the top floors wero hurriedly Mused. The flames were then breaking the windows,' and with the clouds of smoke there was somo difficulty in Teaobing the staircase, the boarders escaping in the scantiest of raiment. Two invalids were carried out, and there wero some narrow escapes. _ , Stedman's insurances total J882,»1C, ineluding £3000 in tho Kow Zealand Insurance Office, and in -the South British Company. Tho other firms are largely covered. ; ' LOSS ESTIMATED AT £150,000. (Eco. July 28, 1.15 a.m.) Sydney, July 27. The damage is estimated at .£150,000. ' GENERAL ITEMS . THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN WEST AUSTRALIA. THE NEW CABINET. (Eec. July 27, 10,20 p.m.) Perth, July 27. The new Ministry is as follows:— Premier, Mr. Wilson. Lands," Mr. Ee Froy. Railways, Mr. Mitchell. Education Mr. Colebatch. Works, Mr. Georgo. f . A ttomey-Goneral, Mr. Robinson. . Honorary Ministers, Dr. Aan and Mr. .. Connolly.

PREPARE FOR A,LONG WAR. VIEWS OP COMMERCIAL MEN"! '. Sydney, July 27. At the annual meeting of the Chamber of ' Commerce, speeches" were given emphasising the necessity for preparing to • face a long war, and the urgent need for private and public economy and for organising a great deal of trade "after the war. • • | THE FEDERAL WAR LOAN. t APPEAL TO 'BANKS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS. (Rcc. July 27, G. 55 p.m.) Melbourne, July 27. - Senator Biggs (Acting-Minister for. Defence and Federal Treasurer) has issued a circular to banks and' other companies frtating that an instance has come_ to his notice of a large financial institution discouraging investment in the .War Loan. "Eve"n in one ho says, "this is deplorable anti-Australian and anti-Bri-tish conduct—deplorable enough to cause alarm and impel me to urge you to.uso ( special efforts to make .the loan a, success. The Government must not be placed in such a position in the sight of the enemy's conntricss that it has to bo forced to adopt other than" most aiproved methods of raising money for var purposes.'' THE COLLIERY TROUBLE. SETTLEMENT.IN' SIGHT.. (Rec. July 28,"1.15 Sydney, July 27. Several of the collieries at Cessnocfc" have accepted the proprietors' offer of an increase, and others are expected to follow suit. ■ Melbourne, July 2i. The colliery conference reached a ten-> "tative agreement. , *