AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association. RAIN AND FLOOD. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 18. Rain accompanied by stormy weather along the Coast is delaying shipping. Arriving vessels report rough stormy seas. The latest from Grafton is that the river is rising rapidly and a big Hood is feared. ,

FLOOD DAMAGE. SYDNEY, Feb. 17. Heavy rainfalls continue throughou the state and many places report flood and serious damage. The town of Junee is flooded, am bodies of drowned cows are floatin' in the low-lying streets. The electri< light plant was damaged and tin town is in partial darkness. The water invaded many houses. The railway is deeply under water and traffic is suspended. The Melbourne expresses to and from Sydney are held up by a big wash-away. The Clarence River is again rising, and threatens to flood Grafton.

I A cloud-burst occurred near .\;irramlei'a ami torrential rain resulted in the houses and shops in the low distriets being deeply flooded. (iaimnaiu re])orts that the residents of thirty houses were driven out by flood waters. Ardletown reports three feet of water in the main street, and that reseue parties took residents from houses alone the creeks in the vicinity of the town. At C'ootamundra over live hundred overland train passengers are awaiting for repairs to railway wash-awavs in order to resume the journey. Several minor derailments arc reported owing to wash-awavs, hut no fatalities. There is a general dislocation of railway traffic, the rivers rising everywhere, and worse floods are anticipated. HRISHA.NK, Feb. 17. The Hurnett Kiver, in high flood at .M.into, has formed a lake miles wide, swept away maize, and cotton crops, miles of fencing and encroached on dwellings. Other places along the river’s valley report similar destruction. Other rivers are also flooding and causing widespread destruction. Much stock has been drowned.

HUN DAHERO TRAGEDY. BRISBANE, Eel). 17. Before tlie Serum Conimissiou, Dr Elkingrton. Federal Director of Tropical Hygiene, said he did not issue the Eederal Laboratories warning circulars reg'ardingr the use of so ruin, because Indistinctly understood from a letter received from the lahoratories that each carton would contain a circular. Witnesses gave evidence that they had seen cartons which did not contain the warning'. Doctor Williams deposed that a hatch of cartons he had used contained no warning'. As a matter of fact, he was not aware that it was highly dang'erous to the serum after the ruhher cap had been pierced. It was a terrific shock to him to hear that such a method mig'lit have fatal effects.

TRAGIC SEQUEL. BRISBANE, Feb. 17. A tragedy followed ti wedding near Ingham. The guests included an Italian named Bosons Grasso, his wife and cousin, a youth Silvntu /Jrnsso. After the married couple had departed, Bosons allegedly ill treated his wife. Siilvato intervened and the former drew a revolver and fired six shots at Silvato killing him. SAMOAN MURDERS. APIA, Feb. 16. (By Radio Special to Press Assn.) Investigations into two brutal murders, at Lntopa, near Apia. on October last, culminated in the arrest to-day of a half-caste relative of one of the murdered girls and also a Samoan who has not been (barged yet.