AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

DESTRUCTION AT WAGGA. SYDNEY, .January 8. When the floods in the Wagga district struck Junec the water swept through the town like breakers at tho seaside, carrying everything before it. The damage to the town alone is many thousands sterling. The roads in the district are littered with drowned cattle and horses. .MELBOURNE DELUGE AND CYCLONE. MELBOURNE, January 7. A violent storm deluged the city and suburbs early this morning, many lowlying districts being flooded. 'Die storm was followed by a cyclone in the afternoon which unroofed buildings, tore down the telephone and telegraph wires while many small yachts in the bay were swept ashore. Heavy damage is reported.

FLOATING DOCK FOR NEWCASTLE.

(Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) SYDNEY,, Jan. 8

The State Cabinet has decided to construct a limiting dock at Newcastle at n probable cost of £400,000. Some time ago the Federal Government offered to subsidise tlie dock to the extent of £135,000, but Mr Lang asked Mr Brine to increas* tbe subsidy and tlie latter re fused.

Tbe Government now proposes to construct tbe dock without Federal assistance.

DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED SYDNEY, Jan. 8.

The death sentence passed on Smith lias been commuted to imprisonment ’or tbe term of bis natural life.

FRENCH SLOOP TO GO TO DUNEDIN. SYDNEY. Jan. 8. The French -sloop C’nssiopel lias arrived at Sydney. After a fortnight’s stay for docking and provisioning she will sail for Dunedin, where she will represent the French Government at the Exhibition. She will remain there about two months. Captain de Conx is in command. HAILSTORM IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY. January 8. A fierce storm, accompanied by heavy rain and hail stones of abnormal size', struck the city and northern and eastern suburbs. Emit trees and gardens generally suffered badly and heavy damage was done bv flooding. IMPORTED APPLE SCARE. ADELAIDE, January 8. Several representatives of English fir ms have been instructed to cease buying apples until further notice, presumably owing to the recent arson ip scare in England. Growers and dealers in Australia are not likely to lie greatly affected as most of the leading London buyers arc already coin nutted to the extent of their average season’s shipments at thirteen shillings per case including freight.