AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1920, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN.

(Australian & n.s. carl* association] ME HOLMAN. SYDNEY, January 8. /The political situation is cloudy. The prospect of the State elections may be influencing matters. The latest is .that there are persistent rumours of probable changes in the New South Wales Cabinet.

The change seekers include one section of the Nationalists who are dissatisfied with Mr Holman’s leadership. They are now seeking to replace him. Mr Holman, however, denies a rumour that he will succeed Sir G. Wade, in London as Agent-General.

TIMBER STEAMERS. SYDNEY, January 8. Messrs Lamb and Co., have made arrangements with the engineers working their fleet of steamers engaged in the Sydney-Neew Zealand timber trade by which these vessels will remain in commissioii.

A CLEVER FRAUD. BANK ROBBED OF £909. HOBART, Dec 17. A story of a sensational fraud in the State Agricultural Bank is revealed in the annual revort of the Auditor-Gen-eral. Misappropriations totalling £909 have been discovered, and the culprit is alleged to have been a clerk formerly employed by the bank. The frauds were cleverly and deliberately planned and executed by operating upon four old applications to the bank for loans which bad been approved by the trustees, and which for some reasons or other had not been operated upon by the applicants. The mortgages and signatures of the applicants were forged, and entries made in the led ger to the effect that the collection of interest should .stand over till the applicants returned from active service. Tlio entries helped materially to cover up the frauds, which were perpetrated in the latter part of 1917 and early in 1918 and were not discovered till July last. One of the cheques was cashed over the Treasury counter. The audit inspector in his report says: “The absence of ordinary business precautions in the bank made the fraud possible. ”

LABOUR LIEUT-GOVERNOR. BRISBANE, Jan. 8. The appointment is announced of Hon Mr Lennon a member of the Labour Party, as Lieut-Governor of Queensland. A scene was made in the Assembly over the announcement by Mr Barnes a former State Treasurer, who expressed disapproval of the appointment, alleging that Hon Mr Lennon, “had endorsed disloyal utterances made by the Cabinet.’’ Mi- Barues declared: “Now, forsooth, he is thrown upon the State as Lieutenant Governor, the appointment boing made on the lecoinmendation of the Government of Queensland.” The Chairman of the Assembly ordered Barnes to withdraw the words. Barnes refused to obey, aud thus was suspended. The Opposition made an uproar as Barnes left, asserting that they were protesting against stilling freedom of speech.

LEFT AUSTRALIA. DARWIN, Jan. 8. At the Northern Territory Commission, Justice Ewing stated that Palmer, who formerly was associated with Dr Gilruth in Daly River land matters, had now left Australia, and was believed to be iu New Zealand.

DARWIN ENQUIRY. (Received This Day at 8.45 a.m.) DARWIN, January 8L In evidence before the Commission of Inquiry, Callan (hotel supervisor) stated dissatisfaction was due to the adminitration being in favour of companies and against whites, in favour of blacks. In a lesser degree it was caused hy the endeavour made to purchase the territory. Indignation meetings were held frequently; but no satisfactory reply was ever received from Gilruth who denied having any interest in Daly mines and the Ministers statement to the representatives supported this. Asked if it was thought that Gilruth’s policy was to introduce Latin races and that the presence of the foreign element was largely due to Gil, witness replied “Yee.”

A BIG ESTATE. SYDNEY, Jan. 8. The New South Wales estate f the late Sir Archibald Lucas-Tooth, who died on service in France, is valued at £525,571. The baronetcy has lapsed. LATE SIR E. BARTON. SYDNEY, Jan. 8. The late Sir E. Barton will be accorded a State funeral to-morrow.