AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

1 Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

HOW SYDNEY GROWS. SYDNEY, July 15. Every day in the metropolis 'of Sydney during the past twelve months thirty new buildings were completed. This, as a matter of fact, marks a slight falling-off compared with the previous twelve months. The new bui.dings constructed involved an outlay of €12,450,0 Hi. compared with €13,333,914 during the previous year, fn the city itself the new buildings erected meant an outlay of over €3.000,000. Figures such as this, issued officially by the Water Board, tell eloquently the story of Sydney’s progress.

INHUMAN MONSTER. SYYDEY. July 22. The inquest concluded to-day on the Cronulla tragedy (wherein a man named Nicliolls, his wife and two sons, were killed, all being found dead in their burning house, and marks of injuries inflicted on the sons being discovered). The Coroner returned a verdict that the husband killed the whole family, .set lire to the house, and committed suicide in a. fit of fierce insanity. The evidence adduced showed the wife was patient and loving, and that the husband was a cruel and inhuman monster.

A VIOLENT TORNADO. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) MELBOURNE, July 23. A violent tornado devasted Geelong this afternoon, buildings were unroofed and many demolished. Debris was flying in all directions, causing many casualties. So fa.r one child has been killed and between twenty and thirty people injured. The damage is very extensive.

WARM WEATHER IN SYDNEY (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 23

Abnormally warm weather for this time of the year is being experienced in New South Wales. Many high temperatures have been reported from the country centres. At Sydney yesterday 78.3 was registered, the highest ever recorded for July. Earlier in. the week the minimum temperature was 42.1.

TORNADO IN VICTORIA. MELBOURNE. July 23. A tornado swept through the southwestern. district of Victoria. It is described as about three hundred yards wide. The most serious damage occurred at Higliton and Belmont, a few miles south of Geelong. It is known that at Belmont station, a completed, house and two in the course of erection were destroyed and two others unroofed. At Highton, two churches, two halls, houses and other buildings were destroyed. Many sensational incidents are reported from various parts affected, but owing to the roads being blocked by fallen trees particulars are not yet available.

Victoria during the last couple of days lias shared abnormal weather conditions, which have extended all over the States, tlio thermometer yesterday reading G 0.3. a July record. A!any orchards in the vicinity of Sorrento were destroyed. Large bailstones fell at Mornington, breaking most of the windows in tlio town.

Telegraphie communication with Mel bourne was delayed owing to most o' the wires being down. Relief parties are searching the district for further injured people. Only one death is reported so far. It is that of Norman Munyard. aged six, of Belmont, who was killed when tlio house collapsed.

DEATH PENALTY TO BE CARRIED OUT.

PERTH, July 23. The Executive Council decided that

lie death penalty imposed on Royston

Rcmmie (cabled on the 4th of June) should be carried out, thus reversing the Labour Party’s policy of the abolition of capital punishment.

'FOODS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA PERTH, July 23. Floods continue unabated. The

bridge across the river Swan at Frcemantle which forms the main connection between Freemantle and tlio rest of the State, collapsed. A passenger train passed over the bridge five.minutes before it went. Already many families have had to leave their homes. In some places tradesmen are doing their rounds in boats. A further rise in the Hood waters is expected. COMMERCIAL. MELBOURNE, July 23. Wheat is firm at Os 9d. Sellers arc scarce. Oats are dull. Milling 3s Od and 3s 8d; feed, 3s 3d. Barley (English), 4s to Is fid; Cape 3s 9d to 4s. Potatoes, £ll 10s to £22. Onions, £lB to £l9.