AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 21 December 1926, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

<Per Press Association —Copyright.) SYDNEY’, December 20. With the exception of the far western districts, where they were only light, good general rains fell oyer the State during the week-end. BRISBANE, December 21. Following heavy rain, a huge volume of water came down the Mary River, flooding Maryborough and the surrounding district, and causing heavy damage to crops and stock. SYDNEY, December 20. A motorist at Leiehardt, drove into a group of people crossing the road, killing Rosetta Thomspon (11) and her grandmother, Mrs Thompson (7.1), and injuring three others. ADELAIDE, December 20. The Government Statist estimates the South Australian wheat yield at 35,475,000 bushels—an average of 13.41 bushels per acre, compared with a yield of 28,031,000 bushels, and 11.60 bushels to the acre last year. BRISBANE, December 20. A wireless from Bulolo states that the Warden gave his decision in the claim of the miners at Edie Creek. The Warden dismissed the claims, deciding in favour of the original leaseholders. BRISBANE. December 20. A disastrous drought has broken, soaking rains falling throughout the State. Twenty-five inches were recorded in the Gympie district in the past week. The rivers, in some districts, are flooding. SYDNEY, December 20. The President of the United Licensed Victuallers’ Association has issued a writ claiming £2OOO -against the Rev. R. B. Hammond (proprietor of the Temperance newspaper “Grit”) for alleged libel contained in an article published on December 9, ealing with the question of prohibition in the Federal capital area. SYDNEY, Dec. 20. The first section of the city underground railway from the present central station to St. James station, Hyde Park, was opened for traffic today. Big crowds patronised the service, paying an extra 2d for a ride into the heart of the city. Everything went off smoothly. DARWIN, December 20. Details of the attack on the Japanese lugger show that a native boy brought information to a white man encamped seme distance away that the aboriginals had attacked the lugger. When the man went to the lugger ho found it stranded on the rocks, the deck covered with blood, ard a dead aboriginal thereon.

After questioning the natives, he learned that while the Japanese skipper was ashore, leaving one native on the stop, four Caledon Boy savages attacked the lugger. After a desperate fight they killed the native, throwing the body overboard. 'Hie skipper shortly afterwards returned with two aboriginal members ot the crew. They were savagely attacked, but the aboriginals managed to escape. Tire captain, after a great fight. In whic'h he killed one of his assailants, was himself killed, and the body thrown overboard.

The pirates then looted the lugger and deeamped.