AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2728, 7 January 1890, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Electric Tele.ikaph— Copyright.) Sydney, January 3. A sensational accident occurred this I evening. An old three-story hotel in Lower George street, known as " The Volunteer Aitillery," suddenly collapsed and fell into the street. Those who happened to be on the lower floor escaped unhurt. There were only a few people upstairs. Among them was the barmaid Miss Hogan, who was killed, and it is feared at present that others also have lost their lives. A hundred and thirty-two thousand pounds of butter were shipped to London to-day. January 5. The body of Mr Cook, a solicitor, has been discovered among the debris of the hotel which collapsed on Friday nic;ht, having been suffocated. The missionary schooner John Williams has arrived from the Inlands, and reports that exceptionally severe weather has been experienced there. More wrecks have taken place than for the past 34 years, and in some instances the wreckage could not be identified, nor was there any sign of the crews. Peter Kemp is willing to row O'Connor on the Paramatta. The Federation Conference meets in Melbourua on February 4. Brisbane, January 5. An extraordinarily heavy rainfall has been experienced in the North. At Cardwell, about 950 miles north of here, 49 inches of rain were registered in eight days. The outlook is serious, and it is anticipated that enormous damage has been done. From Normanton several fatalities are reported. Two school teachers named Clayton and Smith were drowned by a boat accident in Keppel Bay; Melbourne, January 3.

The Australasian draws a contrast between New Zealand and Victoria in agricultural and pastoral matters, to the advantage of the former, and compliments New Zealand upon her effort* in the cause of education.