AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19199, 16 June 1924, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

PEARLING LUGGER MISSING. Preso Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, PERTH, June 14. The pearling lugger Eileen is missing. She is believed to have foundered with her crew of 12, composed of six Japanese and six Kolpanders. The coast is being searched. CITY OF SINGAPORE FIRE. ADELAIDE, June 14. At the inquest regarding the death of Albert Greenham, a lire brigadesman who lost his life in the fire on the steamer City of Singapore, the Chief Inspector of Explosives gave evidence that he had come to the conclusion that the fire was due to spontaneous combustion. The explosion of coal was probably due to a mixture of coal gas and air. BIG OIL TANKS ABLAZE. MELBOURNE, June 14. Two 17,000-gallon tanks at the Commonwealth Oil Refinery Works at Altona were greatly damaged, and their oil contents destroyed by fire. The gas from the burning oil exploded and blew the roofs off botlv tanks. The pump-houses near-by were ignited, and the engines and pumps destroyed. The damage has not been estimated. NEW VICTORIAN MINISTER. MELBOURNE, Juno 14. Mr H. E. Pratten, M.H.R., has been appointed Minister of Trade and Customs and Health in succession to Sir Austin Chapman, who has resigned his portfolios. TORRENTIAL RAINS ON NORTH COAST. SYDNEY, June 16. (Received June 15, at 5.5 p.m.) Torrential rains have fallen along the north coast. Floods are feared, many of the creeks being impassable.