AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 60, 6 March 1912, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, March 4. A fire broke out an Briscoe 'and Go.’s ironmongery establishment in Little Oole Street, the building .being' practically destroyed. The flames spread, damaging the stock and safe deposit of the English, Scottish, and Australian Bank of New South Wales, and Collins’ house. The lire 0 is still burning, but as under control. ' . The damage is estimated at many thousands. The cause is unknown. Briscoe’s was a three-storey building, erected only six months' ago. The front part, separated from the rear, where the (ire started, by i fine-proof doors, escaped the flames, though the ■immense stock was damaged thy water. The firemen worked splendidly to save the building, which was the centre of a packed mass of buildings, v The fire was got under in three hours. Burning .debris was carried to adjoining buildings, and started a fire in the Bank of New 'South Wales, but it was soon subdued. Other buildings previously mentioned, besides Montgomery’s cork warehouse, and a number of smaller business premises, suffered from heat and water. The collapse of .Bnisooe’s wall damaged the Bank of New Smith Wales. Briscoe’s business is not seriously inconvenienced, as they .possess another large store in West Melbourne. One estimate of the damage is £-10,000. (Received 5, 9.55 n.m.) Melbourne, .March 5. *l’lio Methodist Conference resolved in favour of the abolition of mixed

bathing, and protested against the increase of Sunday trains. Other resolutions protested against the legalisation of the totalisator, and urging legislation rendering illegal art unions and lotteries held in aid of churches and schools. The damage to Briscoe’s firm is fully covered by the insurance. (Received 5, 10.5 a.m.) Sydney, March 5. Athol Swain and 'VVilliam Bennett were crossing to Bcllingen Hoads an a flat-bottomed boat. They were washed out to sea, the boat overturned in the breakers and they have not been since seen. A hotel-keeper at Rnshcutters’ Bay had an exciting experience with a masked and armed burglar. He was awakened in the middle of the night and -a revolver was presented at his head. The burglar demanded money and subsequently escaped with £2O. It is probably the same individual who has been terrorising the residents of other suburbs lor several weeks. Mr Bceby promised a deputation to introduce legislation placing chemists under the early closing regulations.