AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1922, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

ACbinAliAN AND S.i. CABLE ASSOCIATION,

OIL OR A JOKE? BRISBANE, June 3. The Government analyst Inis reported to tli© Minister of Mines that a sample of the liquid from the Beaude- —- sort oil bore lias the same composition an a mixture of kerosene with a little lubricating oil. The Minister said if a practical joke had been played it was not on the par of the owner.

CHEAPER POSTAGE. MELBOURNE, June 4. Mr Oxenham, referring to a statement that letters over a certain weight were carried cheaper m New Zealand than in Australia, explained that the area of the latter country is approximately 30 times as large is that ot New Zealand. In any c-ase, it was immaterial, as 95 per cent of the Betters in Australia weighed not more than half ail ounce, and only 5 per cent ot the inland' letters were affected.

ASSISTANCE TO BIG FAMILIES. SYDNEY, June 2. It .is understood a Bill drafted will be presented next session providing for a pension for large families, where the income of the wage ©arnev is insufficient to maintain children at- a reasonable standard of comfort. It is expected that a quarter of a million expenditure on relief will result. . STATE ORCHESTRA. . SYDNEY June 4. Notices were issued to members of the New South Wales State Orchestra to-day terminating their, contracts. In the meantime-a private move is being made to prevent the total disbandment of flie orchestra. BLAKE’S FLIGHT. ADELAIDE. June 3 - Sir Keith Smith has arrived. The late Ross Smith’s remains will reach Adelaide in a few days. Sir Keith Smith said he had declined to join Blake’s round the world flight, because the season was too late. The Indian monsoons would probably interfere with it. and anyway, lie would not start m any machine hut a Yickers-A imv.