AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australian Press Association.) ATTACKED BY SNAKE. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) ADELAIDE, May 21. ine curator of the Snake Park was giving a demonstration when a reptile seized his face, part of which was taken inside the snake’s jaws. The snake endeavoured to constrict itself round the Curator’s body, hut lie managed to place his foot on its tail, preventing it. Another official prized open its jaws with a walking stick. The curator’s face was severely lacerated with the snake’s teeth, requiring medical attention.

COOKS’ DISPUTE, SYDNEY, -May 21

Mr Tildohqpc states the cooks’ dispute will be reviewed at a meeting in Sydney to-day. BRISBANE, May 21. The local branch of the marine cooks have formulated a charges against the Federal Executive with regard to its conduct of the Cook’s Union. The charges will he referred to the Registrar of the Arbitration Court.

ALLEGED ASSAULT. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 21. A nursing sister at Wheatley Private Hospital, Crowe’s Nest suburb, told an extraordinary story to a newspaper reporter. She declared (die missed her tram from Roseville suburb to the city, when a well-dressed man with a pleasant voice offered to take her in his ear to the city. She consented, hut was driven into the scrub five miles away, where the man brutally assaulted her, tore her clothes nearly off, and gave her ■three kicks and then drove off. The nurse was too embarrassed to call the attention of other ears. She stated she arrived from New Zealand nine months ago to take up nursing at Wheatley Hospital. LOST SON FOUND. ■ MELBOURNE, May 21. Andrew West, aged 70, left New Zealand for Australia recently to resume a nine year’s search for his son, Percival. Information reached the fatlier from George Emery, Grand HoMorniiigtou, that 1 'crcivstl had been employed by him for the past seven years and the father and son were reunited.

MURDER TRAGEDY. ROMA (Queensland) May 21. A story of a fearful fight with sticks between, 'brothers, resulting in the death of Frederick /Purvey, at Injune, on February 3rd. was told before the circuit court by Harris Caiin, an eye witness, who stated Frederick and Charles 'Purvey and Robert and Arthur Laycock were all drunk, Arthur want- ' ing to fight all the time, Frederick 'Purvey evntunlly knocking him down. Robert Laycock hit’Charles Turvev

on the head with a stick, felling him. Frederick, who was going for the police, was intercepted by the two Laycocks and dreadfully beaten over the head with largo tent pegs, and died quickly. Arthur Laycock walked to where the other Turvev was lying and exclaimed "Mill I kill him. ’ He raised the stick above his head when Cnnn intervened, took the stick away and saved Charles Turvev’s life. Robert Laycock said to his'brother Arthur, “You are the cause of all this, but

as you are a married man I’ll take all the blame and Harry Cnnn can look after my interests.” Laycock brothers are charged with murder. The case was adjourned.