AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1927, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

BUSH FIRES. i MELBOURNE, Feb. 12. i Basil fires continue to sweep many miles of country between Kinglake and Croydon, leaving a trail of desolation and blackened ruin. It is believed Speed, after taking tho children almost to tho main rood returned in an attempt to save tho house and was followed back by the children. Seeing them in difficulties on account of the smoke it is surmised he tried to return with them to the road, when all three were overcome by the heat and smoko and died in tho Humes. Speed’s other three children escaped uninjured. Airs Speed Was absent from home at the time. Grass in the whole district is long tbul dry as tinder and in a strong j wind the fire rushed across tho conn- . try at a rate which made it impossible j for fire fighters to check tho advance. I The host they could do was to divert j to some extent the ilnmes Irani set tic 1 s , homes. .Scarcely a man was to be ’ seen in the township. Alany Feats of heroism and endurance were performed. Tho townships of Queenstown | and Pag ton Hills are still in grave ; danger. A FIRE.. j SYDNEY, Feh. 12. | A fire destroyed Lewis’ general store and Simpson and Coy’s furniture simp ; in tho city. Tho damage is twenty thousand sterling. j

ROYAL CRUISE. i MELBOURNE, February 12. I A wireless message front the “ Renown ' states: A missionary, the Rev. Dolmas, who remembered R. L. Stevens:;.u\s sojourn on the island, visited the ship hearing gifts of lruit. He gave some interesting reminiscences ol the old cannibal days and of the cannibals’ leasting places. 'Hie French Administrator paid a liual official call, larewelling the Duke and Duchess during tlie auernoon. the Duke presenting lam with a souvenir of the visit, ami expressed gratitude for all he done. Tlie Duke also sent a message to tlie Governor of Papeete, warmly appreciating the courtesies shown to the Ro»iiown. Late in tlie afternoon, the natives clustered on ail the vantage points ashore, seeing a fine bit of ship handling. there being not much room to swing the Renown, which turned almost in its own length, and did so apparently as easy as a lorry boat. Then she swung to sea at the rate ol fifteen knots.

THE COAL DISPUTE. SYDNEY, Fell. 12

A Federal official enquiry into the coal dispute conference with Hibhfe (Chairman of the Coal Tribunal) then returned to Melbourne, after telegraphing the result of Inquiries to Air Bruce. Early lode ral action is expected. It is unofficially stated there are good prospects of a settlement. Ihe northern colliery owners association issued a statement that owners desire peace. “For years ther Ras been such an instability, dislocation and a continual interruption of production, as a result of sectional stoppages that to-day the Australian foreign trade in coal which once .spread all over the southern hemisphere and even to remoto countries is now practically 11011-existaiit and oven in Australia the cost ol production has been so forced up that consumers are calreudy replacing coal by other means of power.” Tlie statement concludes by appealing to miners to refrain from a strike which would he as foolish as it would ho calamitous. CYCLONE DAAIAGE. BRISBANE, Feb. 12.

Communication with tho cyclone stricken area of North Queensland is still interrupted. Messages received from tlie commissioner of police state hundreds of people were rescued by the police in the inundated area. The valley at Townshill is six miles wide. Heavy rains were still falling when the message was depatched. At Burke the water is tho highest oil record. At Ingham the jvater is six feet, in the simps. The wind when it struck Cairns had a velocity of ouo hundred miles an hour. It shook tho most substantial buildings and at frequent. intervals tho crashing of falling trees, telegraph polos and flying iron could he heard. By midnight the .storm had reached its greatest intensity. The wind and rain swept the city with terrific force converting the streets into lakes, in addition to other damage. The customs house was almost totally wrecked.