AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1927, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

EXPLOSION MYSTERY

SYDNEY, Feb. 23. ■ Early this morning the residents in the vicnity of ltedfern were roused by a stunning explosion, which occurred in a shop occupied by some Indians, the building being completely shattered. Five of the occupants were buried beneath the debris. They miraculously escaped. Two only received slight' injuries.

The force of the explosion was so heavy that it damaged fourteen other shops in the street, smashed windows for a distance of three hundred yards, and dislocated the electric light system badly. Hie cause of the explosion is a mystery. 'The Indians deny that they had any explosives stored on the premises. The police are investigating as to the possibilities of a bomb outrage amongst other theories. N.S.W. FIGURES. SYDNEY, Feb. 23. An official report shows on June 30th. last New South Wales cattle numbered 2,937,130; horses 631,033; sheep 53,860,000; swine 382,674; showing increases of 61,000, 3,500, 770,000 and 43,000 respectively, compared with the previous June. Crop returns do not supply a comparison o£ acreage, but show the yields of all principal crops are below those of the previous five years’ period. MAN MURDERED. ADELAIDE, Feb. 23.

At the inquest into the death of John Robert Hindmarsh, on February 7th., evidence was given that the victim was called to a hotel from his jewellery establishment, on the plea that a sick man wanted to buy costly jewels. He was found next morning dead on a bed in one of the hotel rooms bv a maid.

As a result of the inquest, two men, Ronald Reynolds and John Baxter, were committed for trial on a charge

of murder. The verdict was that death was due to rapid.asphyxia, caused by injuries to the neck and windpipe, as the result of a gag being fastened tightly over the mouth, round the neck.