AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[DY TEI.F.GRAVn —I'F.R TRESS ASSOCIATION

POLITICAL PACT. SYDNEY, August 10

Addressing the Farmers Annual Conference, Dr Earle Page (Leader ol the Country Party) urged that there was strong need for a continuance ol the pact between the Country and the Nationalist Parties. He said a union of these two Parties was essential to tin. well are of Australia. He denounced the critics of the union, who, he said, were making the leaders’ tasks harder, as a renewal of the huge war loans, totalling seventy millions, might be adversely affected if there wore continued political turmoil and constant change of Government in Australia..

TIMBER workers strike SYDNEY. July 11,

'l’be timber winkers at the metal Manufacturing Works at Port Kem11lit (eased work because their request for an additional shilling per day was refused. Approximately nine hundred men are thrown out of work anti all employees will he paid off to-day.

A MINE AI'IKE. TWO MINERS ENTOMBED. NO HOPE OF RESCUE. (Received this day at Bl a.m.) HELL'BOURNE. August 11. A lire ha.s broken out in the McBride Tunnel of the Wontliagge Mines. Two miners, (lit oil' hy the fire, arc still entombed. [u response to an urgent appeal a party of fire lighteis, equipped with rescue apparatus, .were despatched from Melbourne last night by motor

The only hope for the entombed men appears to he that they are equipped with gas helmets: but so serious are the reports of the outbreak that this is regarded as a Slender chance. The lire was cau-cd by the fall of a. stone which cut through the electric wires. A short circuit resulted ami this tired the woodwork and the ignition of the coal seam followed.

,T. Johnston, Underground Manager, and W. Parry. Underground Foreman, were proceeding along the tunnel ahead of the larger party when the explosion occurred between them and those behind. Tile tunnel was immediate! v tilled with smoke and gas. The rear party had to make a hasty retreat. hut. returned later in an attempt to break through to Parry and Johnston hut were unsm cesflll. Another party narrowly escaped later. Although fitted with masks and life -aving appliances they were partly overcome bv poisonous gases and compelled to return to the surface when two men were taken to the hospital. The latest information indicates that tlnmling operations arc in progress and rescue work has been abandoned. Ihe mouth of the mine being sealed there can he no hope for Parry and Johnston’ now. Between six and eight hundred men file. sale of RAW SUGAR. SYDNEY. August 11.

Il i.s reported that six thousand tons (if Fiji raw sugar have been sold lor .shipment to Yancoiivci.