AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1925, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUBIKALI AN AND N.Z. CAHLK ASSOCIATION XHJI’I’IXG .1 MBA SSL. • Received this day at X a.in.) SYDNEY. January I. There was no change to-night in the .shipping position. A meeting of shipowners and I’nion representatives tomorrow will discuss the vexed rjiiostion of the signing on place. Shipowners at Melbourne also meet to-morrow. It is regarded as possible that the trouble will he referred to the Federal Arbitration Court. A THCNDERSTOHAI. SYDNEY. January I. A fierce thunderstorm at Orange was followed by phenomenal cloudbursts of rain and hail, which resulted in severe damage. Matty residences and business places were flooded, TWO SWAGGFI’S DROWNED. SYDNEY, January I. Thro;* swagmen. names unknown, ramped near a bridge some distance from town, were washed away and two drowned. The third struggled in higher ground and was sent to a hospital in a condition of collapse. PASSENGERS HELD FB. (Received this day at 8 run.)

SYDXFY, Jan. 1. Some 2bo passengers were hooked by tlu‘ t’limania. A iiiimher of them are in mi unfortunate position, as after holidaying they had only just suflieient money to take them home. No vessel is scheduled to leave for New Zealand until the oth. The company is taking a tirm stand against the attempt to force them to secure men through Communist Hall. The crew o r the t'limnruii has been given notice chat they all will he paid off on .Monday. The position in regard to inter-State ’lraflic is ominous as every inter-State vessel reaching Sydney had one or two vacancies in the crew, and it is likely, if the owners refuse to go to Communist Hall to (ill the gaps, that all such ships will be automatically tied up on arrival.

FI RK ix CRICK FT STAND. 1 Received this day at 8 a.m.) < MELBOURNE. Jan. ■!. A lire in the main stand at the cricket ground early yesterday forenoon caused excitement among a largo crowd ol spectators already assembled. It is surmised a cigar bull lel I through a knot hole in the floor on to the eeil-

, jug between the tea-rooms and a bottom portion til the stand. ’1 he lire brigade were called but were much hampered by those who had secured seats objecting to move for fear of losing them. Evertn.illv the Haines were quelled with buckets of wafer without much damage being done. A second small outbreak in the top portion of the pavilion was put out with the contents of a Little uf beer.