AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22505, 25 February 1935, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

A SPECTACULAR FIRE BIG BUILDING GUTTED • , SYDNEY, February 23. (Received Feb. 24, at 5.5 p.m.) A spectacular fire occurred in the city this morning, when the six-storeyed building of the Bloch Gerber Company, wholesale wireless and electrical distributors, was gutted. Stock valued at £35,000 was destroyed. v .

ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE 1_ SYDNEY, February 24. (Received Feb. 24, at 9 p.m.) The building was occupied by Bloch Gerber and known as Hardwicke House, in York street. The damage is conservatively estimated beyond £50,000. The fire was the biggest in the metropolitan area for two years, and 150 firemen from 14 fire stations were engaged in fighting the flames, which spread with amazing rapidity. Of six floors the second, fourth, fifth and sixth were burnt out, while minor damage was done on the other floors. MOTOR TRUCK TRAGEDY MELBOURNE, February 24. (Received Feb. 25, at 1.30 a.m.) William Chisholm, aged 32, was killed, and John Chisholm, aged 54, was injured when a motor truck struck a tramway standard. The standard was badly bent, the upper part coming in contact with electric wires'. The standard, the truck and portion of the footpath became charged with electricity, to the danger of the public, who, however, were kept back by police and firemen. TRAINER ATTACKED BY LION NEWCASTLE, February 24. (Received Feb. 25, at 1.30 a.m.) John Stephens, aged 52, an animal trainer known professionally as " Captain Monzala," was attacked by a lion during a circus ' performance. The lion knocked him down and badly lacerated his arms. A lioness also sprang at Monzala, but the animals were repelled by attendants before they could do further harm to the trainer.