AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2731, 9 February 1910, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

INCIDENTS OF THE FLOOD

SYDNEY, Jan. 25

• The Weewaa correspondent of the “Sydney Daily Telegraph” - says: “The acident Avhich resulted in the death of Mr and Mrs James Grace and Mrs and Miss Chapman is the most deplorable incident of the flood. They were all living on the other side of the lagoon, and Avhen the flood Avas at its highest, Constable Regan, together with four volunteers, took the boat over to their assistance. They Avere coming back Avhen tbe boat ran into a tree trunk and smashed like a matchbox. The constable, after great efforts, succeeded in saving tAvo little l>oys of tlio Chapman family, but he left considerations of his OA\-n safety so late that he Avas dashed against tlie bridge and seriously injured. Apparently tlio four civilians Avho Avere assisting tbe constable bad enough to do to look after their oavii safety. The damage done by the floods here cannot he ev--:i estimated yet. The Avater is not yet off the flats, and the OAvners are not aAvare of the extent of their stock losses. That these Avill be very great is certain. The river is still carrying in its current thousands of carcases of sheep and cattle destroj’ed by the flood. There is hardly a settler in the district Avho is not a fairly heavy loser. Stock in many cases Avere driven on to places Avhere they successfully Aveathered tlio flood of 1908, only to he swept aAA-ay this year and droAvned.

THREE DAYS ON A ROOF. Among thei exciting experiences of the flood were those of the Mackenzies, Avho live at Kerrisdale, about tAvo miles from Moree. Mr Douglas Mackenzie left there on the flood morning for Aloree, and ordered a boat to he built in toAvn in order to rescue his sister and younger brother, avlio Avere rather uncomfortably perched on a table, Avith the prospect of spending several days on the roof. He returned to tell them that the boat was being made, and then set out again with two horses to bring the boat, but on tbe Avay had to abandon both the horses and Avas Avashcd into a tree, where lie.was found by a rescue party in a Chinaman’s boat, all of Avlioin Lad to stop by tbe tree in the boat through the night, the current being too strong to enable them to either proceed or retire. On the following day Mr Mackenzie and the others returned to Moree, and the improvised boat, with a crew of rescuers, succeeded in taking a stock of provisions to Kerrisdale, leaving Miss Mackenzie and her brother on the roof, according to . instructions, as they Avere perfectly safe.

WIFE SHOOTS HUSBAND.

NARRABRI, Jam. 23. A shooting affray is reported from Maulc’s Creek, about 17 miles from Narrabri. It appears that J. J. Buckman, a selector, and his wife, Carolina Buckman, had quarrelled, and Buckman was chasing his wife, bath' being on horseback. The woman struck a tree and was thrown off. Buckman rushed xip, and attempted to strike her with a stick. The woman pulled a revolver from her dress and shot him dead. She,then returned to the house, harnessed a horse, and drove to Narrabri, where she arrived at 5.30 a.in. today. iShe gave herself up to the police. The Coroner has gone to the scene of the tragedy. Accused "was brought before the Court and remanded till Monday. She is 35 years of age, and the mother of nine children. A good deal of friction existed in the family, Buckman having been twice charged -with being insane,

and once for assault on his wife, all of Avliich charges were dismissed.

THE PEA-RIFLE PERIL

MELBOURNE, Jan. 24

Reuben Finch (19) was fatally shot on the Mossiface-road, near Bruthon, on Saturday evening. It appears that deceased started out to shoot a rr Lbit. The ground Avas rough, and he tripped, causing the pea-rifle to explode. 'I he bullet passed through his chest. A sail shooting accident also occurred at Mount Williams, four miles from Lanceficld, on Sunday a.awioon a bright young girl named Clara Isa bella PoAvell, daughter of Mr and Mis Edgar Powell, losing her life. It appears that PoAvell, his daughter, and some other members of the family Avent out into one of the paddocks near tho house, taking with them a pea-rifle, for "the purpose of shooting rabbits. Miss PoAvell picked up the rifle, and as she did so it exploded. The bullet entered her left breast. A doctor was immediately summoned, and on arrival said that death had been practically instantaneous.

CONFIDENCE TRICKSTER’S

HAUL

MELBOURNE, Jan. 25.

Dr Carmeli Garofolo, of Naples, a medical practitioner, was victimised of £250 by a confidence trick to-day. The "doctor came doivn from the North on the steamer Orvieto, bound for Naples. While aboard the vessel a companionable sort of young man greAv chummy with him. The doctor had with him foreign money, but went to the Bank of # Australasia, and changed the money into four £SO notes and five £lO notes. Whilst in an hotel he Avas initiated into the mysteries of a match game. Dr Garofolo Avas induced to hand his £250 to a companion. Then one of the men left the room. As he did not return, another Avent to see the reason of his delay, and as he too A\as absent for some minutes, the third sauntered out to ascertain the reason of such ungentlcmanly conduct in delaying the game. When the doctor found himself alone he suspected trick • ery, and communicated with the police.