AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 18053, 22 August 1922, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. RUNAWAY ELECTRIC TRAIN. MELBOURNE, August 21. An electric train from, Flinders street, loaded with, passengers, got out of control after leaving Moorabbin, and dashed through the stations at Highett and Cheltenham, attaining a speed of fifty miles an hour before the guard was able to apply the brakes. It was thou discovered that the driver was missing. He was found later on the line between Moorabbin and Highett, dead,, with a fractured skull. He apparently had fallen from the train. [The stations mentioned are from nine to twelve miles out of Melbourne on the line skirting .the cast side of Port ,I’hillip Bay, not long electrified in pursuance of the conversion of Melbourne’s suburban train service.] FARMERS AND POLITICS. SYDNEY, August 21. At the annual conference of the Farmers and Settlers’ Association Mr Killen, in his presidential address, said that the Progressive Party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held the balance of power. The split in the party before the last election had resulted in consolidating the party into a body representing the primary resources, and determined to uphold the separate entity of tho party at alt costs. COUNTRY HOUSE TRAGEDY. SYDNEY - , August 21. Fire destroyed the residence of Mr Do La Ferguson .it Nullo Mountain, near Rylstone, and Ferguson, His wife, and three daughters were burned to death. The bodies were completely burned, only the bones of the children being left. Tho tragedy was discovered by a passer-by. The nearest house was two miles away. LIGHT OX SUGAR DEALS. MELBOURNE, August 22. (Received August 22, at 11.5 a.in.) Mr IJenjamin Lee, merchant, submitted evidence before the Federal Sugar Inquiry Board to the effect that he had been authorised to purchase sugar in Java for the Commonwealth ; but, alter making a deal, he was advised that the Commonwealth was dealing through other channels. lie could have saved the Commonwealth £67,000 in three deals if the ‘purchases had been made through him.