AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13979, 8 February 1909, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

FLOODS AT BATHURST. j EXCITING EXPERIENCES. J As a result of heavy falls of rain floods have ! been experienced at Bathurst. At Bald | Hills, Perth, and George's Plains a- large I body of water swept down from the hills i with tremendous force, carrying before it logs and debris, and levelling fences in j every direction. Residents along the Vale Road had some exciting experiences on : January 31, the roadway being under water ] for a considerable distance, and all lowj lying land between the railway and creek ja. sheet of water. From the saleyards towards Bathurst water covered all the padI docks. The water reached from the gasworks to Russell-street bridge, and was to deep in places that it ran into the body of vehicles that were driven through it. The current was very strong, and one or I two exciting events occurred. Miss Mc-

Phillamy, of Gorman's Hill, attempted to drive out from town. She succeeded in getting as far as the comer of the gasworks' paddock when the horse was swept off its feet on the side of the road. The crowd standing near the railway crossing noticed the danger in which Miss McPhillamy was. Constables Lennon and Jones were in the crowd, and they at once rode to her assistance. Acting on the advice of Constable Lennon, Miss McPhillamy climbed into a willow free, and there waited until a horseman rode through the water and rescued her. The police brought horse and sulky out safely, though some of the contents ol the vehicle were washed away. The Hood is said by old residents to be the highest since 1856. REMARKABLE DISCOVERY. A marvellous discovery has been made at Melbourne Hospital. Six months ago Thomas Shaw, aged 53, a coal-lumper, while at work was struck a severe blow on the forehead with a heavy basket of coal, and ' his head was jerked backwards violently. No very serious consequences appeared at the time. The man suffered from pains in the head, but after a time these abated to a considerable extent. Three weeks ago Shaw received another blow on the head, and immediately the head pains recurred, but moro violently than before. He went to St. Vincent's Hospital, but they were unable to satisfactorily diagnose the case. Shaw then went to the Melbourne Hospital, where it was decided to take a skyogra.ph of tho patient's neck by means of the X rays. The plate, to the astonishment of the doctors, showed a very distinct dislocation of one of the joints of tho spinal column. What is known as the atlas vertebrae was seen to have been thrown completely out of joint. The case is regarded by the medical officers as one of the most remarkable on record. JOKE ENDS FATALLY. A young man named Martin Klein expired as the result of a practical joke at Maryborough (Queensland) the other night. Klein was watching a man named Ostenfeldt building a skiff in a disused wharf shed by the aid of flare lamps. Unobserved by Klein, a young fellow named MacPherson relied a stone along the floor, and Klein exclaimed "The place is haunted." MaePherson, seizing the ghost theory as a. good opportunity to scare Klein, rattled empty tins and blew the flares out while Klein was looking for the cause of the noise produced by the stone. Klein fainted from shock. * Restoratives were immediately applied, and Dr. Penny called, who declared that he was dead. Young MacPherson at once reported to the police the shocking result of itis joke.