AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association

THE COAL STRIKE. MELBOURNE. February 13. Owine to the coal strike, three colliers are already laid up, and the crews have been paid ofi". WANTED MAX SHOOTS HIMSELF. PERTH. Feh. 13. A man named J. Thomas, wanted hv the police in connection with the murder of Mrs Martin and. her son (dibled on Tuesday) was found dead ill some scrub near a river south of Perth. He had apparently shot himself. BURNI NO G R ANDSTAXI). .ME I,BOURNE, Feh. 13. During the second race at Caulfield yesterday, .'\ fire broke out in the Guinea Stand. The occupants refused to leave the stand until the race had finished, and then they came down with a rush and watched the structure burn to the ground. Tho damage is estimated at. fifty thousand sterling. The racing was not interfered with. There was no water available for the fire-fighting brigade, which was tillable to help. FIRES CONTINUE. .MELBOURNE. Feb. 13. The hush fires continue to rage in many parts of Victoria. In the van of one big party of fire-lighters in the Yam Valley are Lord Somers (Governor of the State) nnd his personal staff. Many appeals for help have been received. The responses are gratifying, but the danger is not yet past. There have been many thrilling rescues. CYCLIST KILLED. HOBART, Feh. 11. Racing tit the speedway in the solo motor cycle event. Gerrard Roberts, need 19, after providing a numlier of thrilling rides struck a rough patch, swerved off the track and crashed into the fence and was killed. BUSH FLUES . HOBART Feh. 14. Bush fires around Hobart and vicinity caused extensive damage. A party j of blue-jackets, from a. warship, were rushed to the scene and assisted in lighting the flames which are now under control MELBOURNE, Feh. 14. Grave danger threatening a number of town front hush fires was averted over the week-end mainly through a change of wind, hut the position in many centres is still obscure, owing to interruption of communications, hut it is known that tho damage has been enormous. Many districts are experiencing the worst fires in history.

A GENEROUS. GIFT. MELBOURNE, Feb. M

Robert Ritchie, of Penhursl, lias given -Melbourne University £4o.<X)!> in memory of his son. Capt. Rifchie, killed in the war. He expresses a wish that C3o.f'!!<> he used for the establishment of an endowment of a Chair of Economies, and ten thousand to he adod to the funds of the training college. Melbourne.