AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) SCIENCE RESEARCH. (Received this, day at 11.5 n.m.) HOBART, Jan. 17. At the first meeting of the General Association for the Advancement of Science, it was announced the Mueller -Medal for re-search has been awarded to Doctor Leonard Cockayne for bis rosea relics in New Zealand botany, extending over a period of twenty-live years, and published chiefly in transactions of the New Zealand Institute. It, was decided that the next meeting of Science Congress he held at Brisbane in May, 1930. Mr E. C. Andrews, of Sydney, was chosen president-elect of that Congress. OBITUARY. BRISBANE, Jan. 17. Obituary—John Payne, member of the Legislative Assembly and one ol the pioneers of the Labour movement in Queensland. CROWN LAND SELECTIONS. BRISBANE. Jan. 17. A lingo decrease occurred in Crown land selection in Queensland in 1927. Last year 873 persons selected 1982 thousand acres compared with 1130 selectors of 3243 thousand acres in 1920. The total amount of rentals which accrued from lust year’s selection was £1033 sterling compared with £21,038, for the previous year.

SERIOUS FIRMS. (Received ibis Jay at 11.15 n.m.) BRISBANE, .lan. 17. A serious lire in the business quarter of St. Anthorpe destroyed several premises. The damage amounted to many thousands sterling. A disastrous fire also occurred at Murgon, where three buildings were gutted and another hadlv damaged by heat. The damage exceeds ten thousand. DISASTROUS BUSH FIRES. MELBOURNE, Jan. 17. Rush fires caused by intense heat which has ruled for the past week arc raging in many country districts. Excessive damage was done. Large forces of volunteers are lighting hard to hold the outbreaks in check, but continual changes of wind in some cases frustrated their efforts.

In 'Gippsland district many houses wore destroyed. Tt is stated the townships of Flynn and Flynn’s Creek are in danger of being wiped out. The timber districts are suffering severe-