AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20582, 4 December 1928, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

DOUBLE DROWNING (FATALITY. GIRLS FALL INTO DAM. (Halted Press Association.) . (By Electric Dslegraph.—Copyright.! SYDNEY; December 3. May Irvine, aged 17,’and Kathaleen Credan, aged 19, were drowned in-a dam on the Murrumbidgee .River-‘near Lockhart, when the limb- of a tree .overhanging the, water, on which they .were * sitting, snapped. A male companion made repeated efforts at rescue, but their desperatei struggles forced him to let go. The bodies have not been recovered. DAIRYING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. INSUFFICIENT RAINFALL. ■ SYDNEY, December 3. Concern is expressed regarding the prospects in the dairying’districts owing to insufficient rainfall during the past five months alone the coastal area of New South Wales, wpere good rains are urgently needed to revive the pastures. The effect of reports by Dairy Department officials is that,- instead of a seasonbale advance-vtowards the peak of butter and cheese production, there is now a decline m almost all the important districts to the extent, of about 15 per., cent. Considerable hand feeding is reported in order to maintain the milk production. Conditions inland , are better with drv feed available, but production has passed the peak and ig now below normal. 'Even good rains would not prevent-the decline now.—Australian Press Association.' THE VICTpEIAN - SENATE. COMPLETION OF COUNT. * MELBOURNE, December 3. {Received Deo. 3, at 5.6 £.m.) The Senate coiint. was completed at the week-end,. and resulted in -Mr R. - Elliott (Country ‘ Party) winning the third seat. The others were won by a Labourite and a Nationalist. BIG FIRE AT MOREE. ' SEVERAL BUILDINGS GUTTED,

SYDNEY, December 3. (Received Dec. 3, at 5.5 pani) Damage running into many thousands of pounds was caused by a fire at Moree which started in the Royal Hotel and spread to other, buildings. It is reported that three hotels, two chemists, two booksellers, a fruiterer’s, and other shops have been gutted. The . water supply failed under the tremendous pressure imposed on it. The. electric light also gave out. The townspeople fought gamely against terrific odds.

THIRTY SHOPS DESTROYED. ■ SYDNEY, December 3.(Received. Dec. .3, at 10 p.m.) The fire at More© .destroyed '3O shops and residences, and the damage i& estimated at upwards of £200,000. The Royal and Imperial Hotels were filled 1 with guests, scores of ‘whom escaped in their night attire, and the problem of finding temporary accommodation for them is acute. Oil depots attached to a coiale of local store® blew up, making a spectacular sight. Hundreds of local residents looked on wondering when the blare would be checked. Shop after shop went up in'smoke before‘a strong north-easter.

SYDNEY BRIBERY CASES. HEARING OF DIALING'S APPEAL. SYDNEY, December 3. Diver Albert is returning to Sydney from Thursday Island as the result of n subpoena requiring him to give evidence at the appeal of Silas Maling. RETURNED SOLDIERS. DEATHS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, December 5, (Received Dec. 3, at 10 p.m.) Mr W. Stagg, secretary of the Relumed Spldiere’ League of New South Wales, estimates that over 60,000 Australian soldiers have died sineo their discharge from the forces, which is actually more than were killed in battle.