Australian.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1917, Page 3

Australian.

Pee Peesß Association. —Copyeight

PICTURE FILM FIRE

Causes Terrible Panic (Received Feb 15, at 9.40 ».m.) Sydney, Feb 15 While pictures were being shown at the Boys’ Brigade Hell, Surrey Hills, a film caught alight, causing a panic. The audience stampeded down a flight of steps, resulting in a boy, aged seven, losing killed. Twenty-five boys, women and girls were taken to the hospital. A number of others were slightly injured. When the fiim took fire a terrible scene occurred, the bays fighting I'ke maniacs near the stairs. A couple of the leading division fell and in a few minutes the landing

was piled with a seething mass oi boys, slowly suffocating from the weight of those on the top. Meantime the fire, which lasted a few minutes, not caDsing damage, was extinguished, and the work of rescue commenced. Australian Army RBserva Melbourne, Feb 15 The schema for the formation of an Australian Army Reserve provides for the formation of Territorial Associations in each Federal electorate, Northern Territory and Papua. In submitting the regulations to Parlt, the assistant Miuister of Defence stated it was reasonable to assume that the scheme, within twelve months of the termination of the war, would provide Australia with a forca of between 50 thousand and two hundred thousand trained men.