LATE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1917, Page 1

LATE NEWS.

trEli CHESS ASSOCIATION. COPYRIGHT J. v SYDNEY, Jan 3.—ln the metropolitan area last year 6,253 new buildings were completed at a cost of £4,479,000, com. pared with 7,632 buildings and £5,124,000 for the previous year. MELOURNE, Jan. 3.—Negotiations for the formation of a National Ministry are progressing. It is understood it will ho composed of a number of Mr •Hughes and Mr Cock’s Parties, proportionate to their strength.

Browning Accidents. SYDNEY, Jan. 3.—There have been numerous drowning fatalities. A family were paddling in the Manning river when two girls were drowned. At Adelaide seven young men, out sailing, were overturned. Three swam ashore and the other four are missing. Obituary. SYDNEY, Jan. 3.—Chris. Bennett, the manager and proprietor of- the “Evening News.” , • Flood Damage " BRISBANE, Jan. 3. All the northern railways are damaged by the floods and there is a general dislocation of traffic. During the past week there has been an average of seventeen, inches of rain in the Mackay district, and it is estimated that owing to.the floods a hundred thousand tons of onne, esual to ten thousand tons of sugar, will not be harvestable. The losses of live stock in the flooded districts is extremely heavy. .Rescue parties went out for numbers of people, who were marooned in trees and elsewhere, and rescued them. A big body of water is coming down faster than a river, and is expected to reach Rockhampton in a day or two. Precautions are being taken against a flood, and all low-lying residents are packing. LONDON, Jan. 2.—-The Leyland liner “Restorian” ran ashore in a - fog, and is a toial wreck. The crew were saved.

Steamers WreckedLONDON, Jan. 3. The steamer “Lennox” was wrecked in a fog in the Irish Channel, and tha crew saved. , LONDON, Jan. 3. The British steamer “Thistleban” was wrecked off Alexandria.