AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7980, 7 March 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE HURRICANE AT CROYDON. WORST EVER EXPERIENCED. March 6, 9.23 a.m. BRISBANE, March 6. The hurricane at Croydon was the worst ever experienced. It struck the town early . on Sunday morning and raged furiously for eleven hours, demolishing buildings in all directions and leaving scarcely a place in the town and suburbs undamaged. Throughout the gale rain fell in blinding sheets, and the streets and houses were flooded, thus addibg to tho miseries aud sufferings uf the inhabitants. The Palace Hotel, a fine twostory structure, was unroofed, and all the outhouses demolished. The Church of Englaud was shitted bodily twelve feet off the blocks, while the Catholic Churoh was completely wrecked. A cottage occupied by Mr Beel, oue of tho proprietors of the Croydon Record, suddenly gave way, and settling down, was soon a complete ruin. The whole of Mr Reel's family were inside at the time, and had a miraculous escape. Many other small buildings in the same locality were demolished. The Queen's Hotel and the Salvation Army Barracks were completely wrecked, and many humpies in the outskirts of the town- were scattered over the landscape. The Bank of New South Wales building lost its roof. This only gives a faint description of the damages. Every house was flooded, and! many families are homeless. The Town Hall and Courthouse were , tlnown open last night, and blankets provided for the homeless families. Golden Gate also suffered, but not so severely as Croydon. The hotels were destroyed. It is impossible at present to estimate\the'damage, which will probably reach £20,000. The weather is still squally, and telegraphic communication has not yet been fully restored. lORRENTIAL RAINS. Reoeived March 6, 10 a.m. BRISBANE, March 6. Torrential rains have fallen in the far -west. The rivers are in high flood and still rising. Large stretches of country are under water. The mail service is disorganised. Reports from Townsville and Baroaldine state that the railway is damaged in sevoral places and traffic delayed. All goods have been removed to the wharves in anticipation of a big inundation. A gale is raging on the coast. LATER PARTICULARS.

Received March 6, j.13.7 p.m. BRISBANE, March 6. Many stations report a continuance of heavy rain. The traffic on the Charters Towers Hughenden line has been delayed by the floods. The Kiomond line Is under water in many places, and there are a couple of "wash-juts." A portion of a train became derailed but no one was injured. Reports from Winton state that the creeks are running bank high, and a big flood is expected.

THE NEW HEBRIDRS AGREEMENT.

Received March 6, 11.37 p.m. . MELBOURNE, March 6. The Governor-General has receiv«d an ofHoial cablegram from the Imperial Government announcing that the Anglo-French Commission had arrived at an understanding regarding the New Hebrides. The decision will be submitted to the Commonwealth. 1 ALLEGED FALSE t STATEMENT. Received Mar oh 7, ; 1 a.m. SYDNEY, March 6. Mr David Storey, in. a letter to the press, characterises the charge allegedly made by Sir William Lyne against his.Arm as monstrous and absolutely untrue. He challenges the strictest enquiry and in the event of the slightest proof he will forfeit £IOO to the Sydney Hospital.