AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11403, 2 January 1931, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

BIG DECREASE IN SYDNEY BUILDING ACTIVITIES (U.P.A. by Elec. ..Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Dec. 31. The volume of building in Sydney in 1930 touched one of the lowest levels on record. .Last year 9924 structures were erected at a- cost of £10,438,984. This year the cost of '•5931 homes, shops, etc., was £9.201.109. 0 V El’C .5 JjBSiCR IB ED! COMMONWEALTH BTLLS FOR C 0,000,000. fU.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 30. The Commonwealth. Treasury. bills for Co.ooo-000 have been fully subscribed. MISSING IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA FEARS FOR AIRMAN AND MINING EPXERT IU PA. by Elec. Tel. Copvright) SYDNEY, Jan. 1. Grave fears are felt for the safety of .Air pilot Capt. W. Pittenbrugh and mining expert S. Ilamre, who are missing in an arid part of Central Australia for twelve days. They were engaged in mineral exploration and left Alice Springs on December 20 to join other members of the party camped three hundred miles away at Ilbalba. They were last seen by local aborigines’ flying well off their course. Pittenbrugh is a British pilot and more recently instructor in aviation at Mascot, Sydney, while Ilamre is a resident of Petersham, Sydney. Search planes have left for the scene. DISABLED STEAMER SAFE (U.F.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 31, 11 p.m.) HOBART, Dec. 31 The disabled steamer Cabarita has reached Hobart. The engineer died from scalds due to the bursting of a steam pipe. WHEAT TRAIN DERAILED 10 TRUCKS REDUCED TO ATOMS CU.P.A by Elec. Tel. Copyright) Received Dec. .31 11 p.m.) PERTH, Dec. 31. A wheat train was derailed 231 miles north of Perth near Moujvnning. Sixteen trucks were smashed to atoms. The train crew was unhurt. FLOODS AND CYCLONE (Received Jan. 1, 5 p.m.) PERTH, Dec. 1. ; Rains caused serious washouts on i thq trans-continental railway. An engine with a tender mail van two second class coaches on the west-bound express were derailed sixty three miles eastward of Rainna. No one was injured but the rolling stock was considerably damaged. News regarding floods and the condition of the country is unobtainable owing, to a breakdown of the Tailway and telegraph service. A “willy willy” or cyclonic storm struck Marble Bar on Saturday night, damaging the police station, post office, courthouse and residency. The wind reached a velocity of eighty milfS. The gale continued on Monday in the Mullngino district with a rainfall reaching nearly six inches in some places The telegraphs to Wyndham are dislocated, messages, having to go via Adelaide and Darwin with radio idling The .gap between the latter town and Wyndham. • . •