AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1922, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

A CORNER THAT FAILED. (Received 'this day at 9.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 11. An attempt to corner the cattle market and force up tile price of beef, in (onnectioii with sales at Flemington was friisti at.ed. Jt had been the custom of the Railway Department in consit oration <>l the yards capacity and auctioneers requirements to allot three hundred trucks for consignment of stock from the country districts each sale day. It was discovered that o man had ordered one hundred and fifty trucks for various northern stations f< r each day of-the sales. The agents became suspicious and discovered it was not intended to use the trucks, as the dealers for whom lie ordered them were merely dummies. The agent thereupon approached the Department, and asked that an extra one hundred tracks he sent out. meantime hurriedly advising clients to send more cattle. This was done, and as a result the supplies for the sales were normal.

DECREASED DODD YIELD. ' (Received this day at 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY July 11. The gold yield for the half year ending 30th .lime has declined fifty per cent compared with the corresponding period of 1921. The figures for 4921 were £1275,000 sterling and for 1922 £03,500.

WEATHER, REPORTS. SYDNEY. July 11

The State Meteorologist has received word that the Commonwealth will discontinue the interchange of telegraphic weather and river reports between country stations and Sydney as no funds are available. The change is calculated to cause far-reaching iriconveiifence nnd hardship outback.

COKE PROSPECTS. SYDNEY, July 11

The Coke Company director on the South Coast has announced he is in receipt of advice from an .American reproseutntivoMo the effect that no trade is likely with the Pacific Const. as the latter is Inlying Scotch coke for !2s f.o.h-. The director adds that it is impossible to do business in Australian coke, while such low rates for European yoke obtain.

AN INVITATION. MELBOURNE. July 11. The Federal Ministry Ims forwarded an invitation received from United States to attend the pan-Paeilie commercial Congress in October, to the Chambers of Commerce to enable them to send delegates.

PRICE OF BUTTER. BRISBANE. July 11. The price of butter lias advanced from 21 Is 8d to 2225.

ARBITRATION COURT. BRISBANE. July 11. Tn accordance with the decision of the Arbitration Court papers have been served on a number of Unions seeking reduction in wages of £lO to £ls per annum for males; £7 to £l2 for females for classified positions; and £ls and £l2 for unclassified positions. With the public service the basic wage at twenty one should be £2OO per annum for males £l5O for females. The committees of the Unions involved held a meeting and passed a resolution calling on the rank and file of the Parliamentary Labour Party to declare their .attitude towards the Government’s violation of labour pledges. POLICE CI.ITER. SYDNEY. .Tidy 11. The police have several strong (lues by which they hope shortly to trace the unirderer of Konimis. Information supplied includes a description of a mail who was hamring round Hornsby station for several days, and hoarded the train by which Iv minis travelled. Further information states two moi were semi to hurriedly jump from Hornsby train jusl before it stopped at Waitara, anti ran down the embankment ami disappeared. Bank officials are of opinion that Konimis was watehed for a i-nii-siderii.hlo time, as a couple -of weeks ago a man called at the Bank after hours, and asked for some stamps, stating he had Ir en sent by t lit* post offiee. Tim officials bceame suspicious ami communicated with tin postmaster who denied sending anybody. SIIOIiTAGE OF POLICE. SYDNEY. .1 ul v 41.

Mr Oakes stated the police arc seriously undermanned, and special efforts are being made by means of advertising to secure recruits. Further nciiun will depend upon tic.result of the appeal.

TIIK STOT.KN YACHT. July II

The yacht Onenta was brought from Yeppou to Rockhampton. From what can he. gathered, tlie vessel has covered over 43.090 miles in the trip, mainly under sail. A log was found aboard which states, when off the New Zealand coast, the crew got provisions from a passing vessel. The yacht's course, starting from the New Zealand coast, was to Kermadecs, then east to Rapa Island .then south to New Caledonia ; thence in a northerly direction and so on till the Ouconslnnd coast was reached. The crew for part of the time lived on sharks, which they harpooned, and also condensed salt- water when the fresh was exhausted. One of those arrested is reputed to lie a skillul seaman. with a record of service as second mate on big liner. During the time on the fatal voyage, he put in thirteen hours at the wheel on end. the greater part at night, tlie only aids to navigation being a howl compass, and an ordinary school atlas.