AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1923, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

LYCLONTC STORM. DAM Ail K. IN AUSTRALIA. Kc.oivcd this (lav at S.iiO a.m.) SYDNEY. Sepl. 21. ’l'll,, heavy cyclonic storm is abating though Sydney apparently escaped the Cull force of Cue blow. Some damage to property is reported in the suburbs, hut the worst is al Chaiswood where the iron roofs of four shops were dislodged. A portion falling on the road struck a number ol -ehool children,

injuring lour, two ol whom ueie s< nt,

to hospital. Owing to a general dislocation ol Dm telegraphic service, excepting northward, little news is available, hut Mich country reports as have been receive!, show that the storm was widespread and violent, particularly between Sydney and Melbourne. All communication with southern States has been interrupted and it is believed much damage was done. CRUISER AUSTRALIA. tßeceived this day at 11.4 a a.m.) SYDNEY. Sept, til Mr Learie Rage speaking at Oil’s Harbour, favoured a proposal to break up the liattlcshiu Australia and sink the hull to form portion of a local breakwater. Tills would save the iaxpaygEs one hundred thousand spent in the upkeep °l the vessel. POLITICAL. SYDNEY, Sept. 21. P. Selillv, a member of the Assembly for Xnmoi electorate, has resigned and lias been succeeded by his brother, )V ,1 Scully who was the next Labour candidate at the lasi poll.

A JAP’S THANKS. SYDNEY, Sent. 21

Doctor Sakurai (leader of the Japanese delegation at the Science Congress) in a farewell message expressed gratitude for courtesy and hospitality extended him and his colleagues during his visit to Australia which had no! only increased their knowledge ol (he Pacific, hut had prompted goodwill am. friendly feelings among the people or Pacific" countries. Nothing impressed him more than the spontaneous sympathy and generous aid to relieve me distress caused by the earthquake which would he remembered by the Japanese nation for years to conic.

QUEF.NSI.AND POLITICS. BRISBANE. Sept. 21. I„ the Assembly, the Jury Act Amendment Bill, abolishing property qualifications, was read a hrst tl ‘ ,t ‘ The jury is to consist of six instead t four Hild a verdict may he given ny a five-sixths majority if no agreement is reached at the end of six hours. A hill extending the Governm- A * guarantee of of pence per pound lor good quality cotton till July ' f ' R read a first time. \USTR ALLAN A BOR IGIN A LS. PERTH, Sopt. 21. Doctor Haddon of Cambridge, en route to England, said in twenty to thirty years only a few aboriginals would be left in Australia. This was due to the tribes deteriorating miner civilisation.

particulars or gale damage. (Received this day at 12 noon). SYDNEY, Sept. 21. The State has been violently swept by the wildest gale in memory. Owing to interruptions to the telegraphic communications, the extent of the damage in many districts and the southern States is unknown. Reports from every suburb and such country districts from which fragments of news have Lebn trickling through, record many startling escapes from living iron roofs, verandahs, fences, and in one instance from scaffolding from a nine storey building in course of construction, alongside a synagogue in tile heart of the city, at the time, shortly alter six in the evening when worshippers were streaming from the Temple alter townty-fonr hours fasting. “How they escaped the flying timbers is almost a miracle. Owing to congested after business traffic tit the time, the line was heavily laden and trams wore moving slowly in front of the buildings. I lie scaffolding fell' on the trameyrs smashing the woodwork compartments, but no passengers were injured. One fatality is reputed at Knioomba where roofs from houses and shops were lifted bodily and carried several hundred yards away, by the storm. A heavy chimney stack 101 l through a, roof at the fsnnsoiici, one of the best-known residential hotels on the mountains and' recently rebuilt on modern lines. 'I he chimney forced its way through two lleors on to Harry Woods, a kiteheunian of Sydeiiy, who was staying there with his wife. AVoods was crushed to death, and the chimney carried his body to the ground Hour. His wile, who was sitting close by, narrowly escaped a. similar fate. The chefs in the kitchen missed a deluge of bricks by inches.

A'essels at anchor also encountered: an anxious moment, hut 110 damage is reported.