AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

DEVASTATING FIRE IN NEW HEBRIDES.

SUVA, Jan. 20.

The Resident Commissioner of Vila, New Hebrides, reports that a serious fire and explosion occurred at Vila on the night of January 17th. when tho two main stores belonging to Do Bechade, were completely demolished, together with three small buildings and timber yards. No Government buildings, Condominium, or 'British arc affected. The known casualties are: Dead: French one, British two, Chinese and Tongkinese three; seventy injured: European seven, French and natives fifteen; minor injuries: Europeans four, natives thirty. The British Commandant of the Police and Assistant Commandant received superficial injuries in the execution of their duties. The fire i.s now extinguished. Tt is unofficially estimated that tho loss i.s probably £2OO,(XX). SYDNEY, Jan. 20. Advices received from the New Hebrides state that nine persons were burned to death in a fire which destroyed the promises of tho French New Hebrides Coy.

'I he manager and five members of the staff were entrapped in a store and burned.

Altogether there were forty-five casualties caused mostly by the exploding of ammunition.

TERRIFIC STORMS. SYDNEY, Jan. 20.

Heavy rain accompanied by terrific thunder storms deluged the Southwestern and Central Western districts of this state.

The downpour was so heavy that stock were drowned in all directions, Other great damage i.s being caused, many towns being inundated.

A cyclonic storm also struck .Melbourne, lightning causing heavy dam-

An electric train entering the Spencer Street Station was struck by lightning and the whole suburban electrical system was disorganised.

In addition many bouses were flooded by the torrential downpour, and several houses were struck by lightning, luckily with lto fatalities.

INQUEST CONTINUES. SYDNEY, Jan. 21. 'l’be inquest on the victims of the Tahiti-Greycliffe collision continues, evidence being largely similar to that tendered at the Marine Inquiry. The Coroner says he hopes to conclude the inquest by the end of next week.

UNEMPLOYED. SYDNEY, Jan. 21

J. Garden, Secretary of the Trades Labour Council, states there arc twenty thousand skilled workers unemployed throughout New South Wales. Ho says that more nemplovmont exists now than at any other period since the beginning of the century and adds one of tho factors responsible for the present state of affairs is the unrestricted immigration policy of the Federal Government. Each week hundreds of migrants arrive from overseas.