COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 2, 6 December 1915, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

FIRE IN THE HOTEL AUSTRALIA. United Press Association. Sydney, December 5. A fire occurred this morning in the Hotel Australia. A large portion of the top floor and the tower were gutted, while the glass roof and the winter garden were damaged. There was also serious damage done by water and smoke to the five lower floors. 1 here were ninety guests, a number of whom were spending their Sunday abed, and they made a hurried exit in their night clothes. The fire brigade made a splendid, save of the Commercial Travellers’ Club and other big buildings that were threatened. (Received A-tO aim.) Sydney, December fi. The damage at Hotel Australia amounts to £25,000. A Patents Investigation Board has been established to enable inventors to have the merits of their inventions demonstrated and examined at the Government expense if satisfactory. Hie Government will assist in the development.

Adelaide, Decmhr (i. The Municipal elections resulted in a Socialists’ defeat, and the Liberal and Independent increase. Alderman I. Isaacs defeated the retiring Mayor, A. A. Simpson, which was the first contest' for the mayoralty for many years. Sydney, December 6. At the inquest on the Ternora tragedy, evidence was given that Hastie, who was of a a quarrelsome disposition, previously had fired wide' and threatened to shoot his son after tiring at his daughter. A young son, who was present, said he saw the father turn the revolver to Ins head when ho said: “Here goes!” and then he fired. A verdict that death was wilfully self-inflicted was returned. Melbourne, December fi.

A venereal diseases hospital is being formed for services in Egypt. ihtj staff consist of seven officers, including four bacteriologists, one dermatologist and 118 others capable of dealing with 1040 patients.