AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1927, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

TERIt!FIC EXPLOSIONS. SYDNEY, Jan. 31

Two severe explosions, the roar of which was heard four miles away, occured in some sheds at the rear of A. J. Benjamin’s store at Cliatswood. Six persons were hurt. Two are in a critical condition.

Thirty-one shops had their plate"iass windows blown in, and sixteen dwellings had their roofs damaged and their windows broken.

The ceiling of the Methodist Church fell in. The tiles were ripped off tinroof and memorial stained glass windows were smashed.

For five minutes, seven Cliatswood streets were swept hy a tornado or bricks, sheets of galvanised iron, and blazing wooden 1 wains, while a square mile of the surrounding country was shaken.

Tiie first explosion occurred in a shod in which petrol was stored. The fire then passed to a brick shed containing high explosives. This shed seemed simply to bound bodily into the

.Men working in a street one hundred and fifty yards away were hurled off their feet by tho concussion.

BEACH TRAGEDY. SYDNEY, Jan. 31

In terrific seas off the ocean beach at AVov AVoy. two men were drowned, after thev had been clinging for hours to an upturned boat. A third man was rescued with a beach life-line, after a thrilling battle with the breakers.

FT PE IN CAR AGE. SYDNEY, Jau. 31

A lire at Hoskins Bros.’ garage at Petersham. destroyed eight motor buses and a motor car. The damage is estimated at twelve thousand sterling.

I'TPE CAUSE. SA'DXEA', February I

Cliatswood fire was due to spontaneous combustion among some lime stored in a slu’d, which Imrst into ilnine when an employee opened tindoor. The Haines then passed to a petrol s.lied which exploded.

ENDOWMENT ID 1.1.. SYDNEY. February 1

The Parliamentary Labour Party meeting approved of the family endowment scheme of live shillings per head weekly for all children of parents in New South Wales, whose income, with the endowment, does not i xeeed C 7 weekly. The endowment scheme which is aimed at payment to employee* whose income docs not exceed 2103 per annum hut excluding Federal employees from payment for the first child was rejected. The scheme will cost the State seven million sterling, whereof industries of both Slate cam! Federal will hear 51 million ami the State Government If million. An effort will tie made to have the hill ready for presen tation to Parliament this week. GERMAN REPARATIONS. Al ELRODP XE. February I. Air Page announced lie bail received the latest instalment of repnrations from Germany, amounting to a million sterling, lie bad decided to place this amount fngei her with half a million previously received to the sinking fund for the extinction of the Australian war debt.