AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

OTHER, REPORTS

SYDNEY, Sept. 15,

One unofficial report states that prior to the accident the coupling between the trucks of the goods train broke and a .steel rope was used to replace it temporarily, in order to draw (he train into the siding to let the mail train pass, and that while entering the siding the rope snapped and the trucks broke away. Numerous deeds of self-sacrifice among the injured are narrated hy witnesses. It is stated that the women and a party of school girls who were returning to Sydney from a vacation behaved with most commendable calmness amid the scene of horror. There was not the slightest panic. Judge MocntLa. who was among tho passengers, escaped uninjured. Four of the injured in hospital are reported to he serious. The majority of the others are suffering from broken limbs, bruises and severe shock.

COUNTRY TRADERS’ CONFER'ENCF

SYDNEY, September 16

A conference of the* Country Trader.?’ Association adopted resolutions condemning the coupon system and a proposal to make the Saturday hall-holi-dav universal and at the same time abolish the late shopping night.

INS UR ANCE RED ITT lONS

SYDNEY. September Hi.

The Manager of the State Insurance Office announces that a general reduction l>v one-third in insurance rates is to take effect from October Ist, further reductions will he considered after December next.

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

SYDNEY'. September 16

Mr Lotigh.lin retains the DeputyLeadership of the Parliamentary Labour Parly as the result of the caucus meeting. Mr Lang has resigned from the directorate of the Labour daily official organ of the party and has been replaced by Mr Mutch. Minister of Education. The caucus elected Mr Connell nominee of Mr Loughlin’s faction. as Chairman of the party in place of Mr Goslings, Mr Lang's nominee.

U.r Garden, who for many years has liec.n lender of the Communist Party, has resigned from that party and is seeking readmission to the Australian Labour Party, from which lie was expelled some years ago owing to his associations.

A GANG MURDER. ■SYDNEY. September Hi. Reginald Riddle, aged seventeen, as the outcome of gang quarrels, was fatally shot in the street. The A nit middle police arrested a member of another gang.

CONSTABLE ATTACKED. MELBOURNE. September Hi, Const-able Hooley intervening in an angry discussion between three men and a woman in t’ ! 'o street at Fitzroy was savagely attacked. He used a revolver and shot one attacker in the breast. The latter is not expected to recover. The Co ns table shot, the other two men in the legs. All the attackers were arrested. HANK ROBBERY. PERTH, September 10. Two armed men entered the Mount Ln.wlcy brunch of the Westralian Bank, locked tho manager and assistant in the storeroom and took £335 in notes and silver front the safe and calmly walked’into the street. r Jlie locked up officials managed to release themselves and informed the police who later arrested the robbers and recovered the whole of the missing money. The, robbers were recent arrivals from England. LANG RETAINED AS LEADER. SYDNEIY, Sept. 18. The Parliamentary Labour Caucus re-elected Air Lang as Premier and Mr Lotighlin as Minister of Lands. The voting was even for leader, but the Caucus then decided to accept it as a motion for the re-election of Mr Lang.

THE SYDNEY FATALITY. PROGRESS OF INJURED. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 16. Most of the injured in the train smash are progressing favourably. Two at Alurrtirundi Hospital are still itr a serious condition. The body of John Reuben Moekbridge lies at Scone Hospital. One of Cose rescued says he was pinned hard and fast under the wreckage and could not move. The rescuers were chopping at wood above his head and the axe blade came through and struck his ear. He shouted loudly and rescuers then worked round and extricated him. All the passengers speak gratctully of tho heroism displayed h.v the doctors working on tin* spot.