AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1925, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION SALE OF AYHEAT. SYDNEY, February 21. A conference of farmers decided to accept the offers of the Farmers and Graziers company to handle under quality wheat, and dispose of it to the best advantage. The association undertook to make on advance of 2s or 2s (id and thereafter make payment as the wheat is disposed of. GALE IN TASMANIA. HOBART, February 21. Terrific gales were experienced in Huon district, causing great damage, to orchards. Thousands of bushels of apples and pears have been blown ofl the trees. One grower estimates his loss at five hundred bushels. Telephone communication is seriously affected. Bush fires are also raging and tho winds are assisting. There arc already large conflagrations. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. MELBOURNE, February 21. Rev. F. A'. Dowling was elected president for two years of the Congregational Union of .Australia and New Zealand. INTENSE HEAT. BRISBANE, Feb. 21. Intense heat has been experienced in Southwest Quenslnnd during the last fewdays. At dundah 123 degrees were registered, and the residents of the town have commenced to move into Longreach, the nearest town, in order to secure a measure of relief. The intense heat has hung up the shearing operations at several stations. The vegetation is burning up in many parts of the State, and there is great mortality among stock reported. There has been one fatality so iar as is known, n labourer on a station collapsing from beat apoplexy. CYCLONIC STORMS. DAY!AGE IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, Feb. 21. A’iolent cyclonic storms, accompanied bv tornadic winds, have devastated towns in three States. Near Wellington (N.6.W.) three cyclones followed in quick succession. AA’hile the township of Mumliil was sweltering in a temperature of 100 degrees. a tornado arrived, and it uprooted trees, unroofed houses, and demolished the Church of England. Immediately, there followed ft deluge _ of rain. This was followed by two other wind storms, with heavy rain, causing thousands 'of pounds worth of damage. All the creeks, rivers and streams in the district were running bank high. There was no loss of life. In Melbourne, a storm swept the city on ft narrow track, lifting roofs, and felling chimneys. Many narrow escapes are reported. Telephone and telegraphic communications have been badly interrupted. In Tasmania storms swept the frui. centres, causing damage to the extent of many thousands.