AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 30 November 1925, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Per Pr<x« Association —Copyright. MELBOURNE, November 29. r The opening of the sailing season of the Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club was marked by a disaster resulting in three deaths. The weather was fine until the close of the day, when a sudden fierce storm swept the Bay, and caught a large yacht acting as flagship, upon which many people were viewing the regatta. The storm caused the yacht to heel heavily. Four prominent residents of Williamstown, John Dennis, ex-Mayor, and licensee of the Customs House Hotel, and his wife, and Andrew Ward and his wife (draper) were swept from the cockpit. Dennis was rescued in an exhausted condition. Mrs Dennis (aged 50) and Ward and his wife (both 62), were later picked up. Efforts at resuscitation were continued for a couple of hours, but were futile. Other yachts reefed their sails and were brought in through the storm by motor boats. BRISBANE, November 28. A meeting of the Queensland Executive of the Australian Labour Party dealt with the position of members who had not sifcned Vie nnti-Uommunist pledge, and decided that every member of the Executive should be required to sign the • anti-Uommunist pledge, and any member refusing to comply would not be allowed to retain his seat on the executive. Al! members except Mr Moroney and Mr Rymer signed the pledge, and those two, who represent the Bailway Union, were expelled from the executive.