AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1923, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

CHINA AND AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, July 20. William Quinn, an Invercargill merchant, who has just returned from a visit to the East, says Chinese officials in Peking claim that the Chinese discovered Australia two thousand years ago, basing their claim on a book, a classic of mountain and flood, in the archives of China.

HI LLOCK SHIPMENT. MELBOURNE, July 20. The second shipment of North Island bullocks arrived in excellent condition and were generally admired for their uniformity and quality. At the sales, odd beasts sold to CIO 10s and pens sold from C2I 10s to L'JS 17s (id The consignment averaged slightly over .C 25. The estimated average weight was about KTOlbs.

OBITUARY. SYDNEY, July 20,

Obituary.— R. X. Black, formerly Superintendent of the Eastern Extension Cable Company's branch at Wellington.

A SUDDEN DEATH. SYDNEY. July 20. Black had been staving in Sydney prior to proceeding to Adelaide to join his wife. lie bad been in ill-bealtb for several mouths. It was his daily habit to visit the parks, resting on the seats. Ho was found dead sitting on a seat. He had made a dinner engagement, lor tho evening. Tho cause of death was presumably due to heart trouble.

SHIPP PING COMPANY FAILS

(Received this day at 11.45 a.m.) SYDNEY. July 2“

Patrick Steamship Company is going into voluntary liquidation, but the Company’s inter-Stalo services will ho continued pending the sale of assets to another concern. The Company was inaugurated in 1910 witli eighty thousand capital. Ten thousand was added in 1921. The Company was not associated with the Australian Owners’ Federation and was nimble to survive the hitter’s competition, and the general depression. The assets may balance the liabilities, but the share capital is wholly lost.

THE MISSING YACHT

MELBOURNE. July 20. Four fishermen found the missing yacht capsized olf Morningtoii fishing grounds. There was no trace of .McPherson or Davies. A coat and hat were found later in the day. which it is believed belonged to the missing. All hope is abandoned. HIDES SALE. MELBOURNE, July 20. At the hides sale competition was poor and bidding irregular, except fur c, few special parcels which are unchanged. The market generally showed a decline of a fartliing to half-penny.

A CAUSTIC CRITIC. fßeceived this dnv at 11.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 20. Major C. P. Allen, a Privy Councillor, after a short visit to Australia, has sailed for New Zealand. Interviewed in regard to his experiences here, he caustically criticised Australia, lie declared Australia did not like criticism. It simply bored them. I liev were a cock-sure people. T hey were sure they had won the war. hut e\ct\ nation was sure of that. lie came expecting to find Australia, as a new democratic country, had solved mau> problems which trouble the (lid ( oniitry. If is experiemes led him !<• a-k Have volt solved one!' You certainly have not solved the drink tralfic. nor found any better way of settling strikes. Then, economically, how could Australia hope to be progressive as an exporting or maninm till ing country, while she remains in her present vicious circle, bred of protection, and tno high wages which irresistaMy follow high prices, and not act and reach upon one another. Australian high duties on sugar, dried fruits and otner produ'O did not make for Imperial unity.

commented on the segregation o! population in the cities, to tin: neglect and development of the country. Sailing along the coast and seeing wide stretches of unpeopled country lie had many times said to himsell. a gie.it unused continent. Regarding a scheme for the settlement of Britishers, he had been informed of the deliberate birth control in Australia since 1880. It could therefore be said tlmt Australia was not doing its duty towards, bulling the population for itselt.