AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 June 1924, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

—__ VICTORIA ELECTIONS. Received June 13, 9.35 a.m. MELBOURNE, June 13. One hundred and thirty-seven candidates have been nominated, for sixtyfive seats in the State general elections, and twenty are unopposed, including twelve Labour, five Nationalists, three Country Party candidates.—Aus.-N Z Cable Assn. FIRE ON STEAMER.

. • ADELAIDE, June 14. At the inquest into the death of Albert Greenham, fireman, who lost his life in the fire on the steamer .City of Singapore, the chief inspector of explosives gave evidence that he had come to the conclusion that the fire was due to. spontaneous combustion of the coal. The explosion' was probably due to a mixture of coal gas and air. THE COKE' WORKERS. ’ SYDNEY, June 13. Ihe coke tribunal granted the workers m the coke industry a reduction of the hours of work from forty-eight to forty-six weekly—Aus.-N.Z. . Cable Assn. INCREASE IN POPULATION. MELBOURNE, June 13. Ihe Commonwealth statistician reports that the population of Australia is 0,/ /7,262, an increase of 341,528 durinK tbe _ P ast thl 'ee years. There are now 112,174 less women than men in the Commonwealth. /STEAMER AGROUND. ' SYDNEY, June 14. ihe .Japanese steamer Nga Mara is reported to be aground at Manila. The vessel has on board 5000 tons of coal for Manila, which will have to he lightered. CABINET APPOINTMENT. T MELBOURNE, Jun© 14. It is announced that Mr H. E. Pratten has been appointed Minister of Trade, Customs and Health in succession to Mr Chapman, retired.—Aus.N.Z. Cabl© Assn.