AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

FLOOD DAMAGE. PERTH, July 26. Further rain is retarding the (leaning up after the flood. Railway services are still disorganised owing to wash a ways, but the main line of traffic has been fairly well restored. Many rivers are still running at a flood level, blocking several main roads. The Swan River round Perth has fallen considerably, and a majority of the flooded houses in the suburbs have been re-entered.

Damages to bridges and roads throughout the south-west will run into many thousands. Several bridges will have to be .replaced.

RAILWAY SMASH ENQUIRY. SYDNEY, July 26

A departmental hoard appointed to enquire into the Aberdeen railway smash (cabled on lltli June) reports it was caused by oscillation, due to irregularities on the track, the most important of which was a kink coinciding with the maximum difference ‘in the rail levels. Such n position could he produced by last traffic, possibly by one train, thus developing critical conditions for the following train. Tlie line was reported in good condition before the smash, the viaduct sound, and both engines in good running order.

PACIFIC RELATIONS. (Received this duv at 1.0 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 26

AV. Merle Davis, of Honolulu, General Secretary of the Institute of Pacific Relations, is visiting Australia with a view to gathering information to. submit to the Institute’s Conference at Honolulu next July. The Institute is an unofficial body ol business men, whose objective is to study Pacific questions and to remove existing racial friction, substitute facts for fears, and suspicion. Davis lias already visited Japan. Tie is much impressed by the circle of fear which exists right around the Pacific. America is afraid of a certain element of Japanese life, Japan is desperately afraid of America’s economic penetration and militarism. Japan is also afraid of v China and Russia while China is much afraid ol Japan, as is also Australia. The Institute hopes, if possible, to avert a coming conflict between east and west, it does not think it possible to do so, but is making an appeal to the intelligent people of the various countries involved to make an effort to avert such a catastrophe. Mr Davis visits New Zealand before returning to Honolulu. SYDNEY, July 26. Later estimates of Groth’s fire damage range from £35.000 to £38.000.