AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1923, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY. Nov. 20. The fate of H.M.A.S. Australia is still undecided. The suggestion that the battle cruiser should be filled with concrete and be used in the construction of a breakwater at Cuff’s Harbour, on die north const of New South Wales, is, according to the Minister for Defence (Mr Bowden) impracticable. He says that the opinion of the Admiralty is that if the Australian were disposed of in this way it would be u technical infringement of the Washington Treaty.

The Coif's Harbour Chamber of Commerce is lighting hard for the utilisation of the Australia in the manner suggested, and in a letter to the newspapers says;—‘The Minister for Defence (Air Bowden) suggests that the .Australia should be sunk outside Sydney, so that the people of the metropolis could witness the spectacle from the mainland —just the kind ol thing one would expect from a Sydney solicitor. It would certainly be a change from the everlasting racing and other games provided tor the people of Sydney. Blit there is one tiling Mr Howden has forgotten; Sydney is not New South Wales, although it is rapidly getting that- way, and the sinking of the Australia at Cuff’s Harbour would save New Soutli Males £IOO,OOO. Me know that at the present time at Dartmouth, in .England, condemned war ships are being filled with rubble and used to strengthen the sea-wall. We suggest that the Australia should be used likewise.” The suggestion certainly seems more sensible than the spectacular sinking of the ship that played so large a part in tho war. FLAT LIFE IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, Nov. 29. While llai-dwellers are an ever-grow-ing army in Sydney—many of these so-called flats are merely a couple of rooms with the verandah space for tho family washing—tho people to whom ihe charm of the good old-fashioned home makes its appeal-are also growing numerically. Judging from the census period, 1911 to 1921, the number of houses in Sydney during thatperiod increased by nearly 25 per cent, but tenements and flats increased by 07-1 per cent, and boardinghouses by 113 per cent. This applies particularly to the metropolitan area. Another development noted is the large increase in the number of vooden residences in the suburbs rf Sydney, and also the growing use of eo Hereto, dwellings of this material having greatly increased, especially in the outer suburbs. A large increase, and perhaps the most gratifying one of all, irom the broad standpoint of the State, was the increase in Ihe number ol homes owned or partially paid for by their occupiers. This fact il said to be mainly due to the activities of the Advances for Homes Department of the State Savings Bank and of the War Service Homes Department

'CBTUALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. POLICE HELP LITS ENROLLED. MELBOURNE, Dec. tb I'wenty-uiiic police recruit; , mostly Iron) tbe country, have been enrolled They arc the firs! batch of the sihundred required to replace the .strik'd'-. ATTEAII’TEI) MURDER. MELBOURNE, Doe. fi. Ex-CYinsinble Hannah has boon committed for trial on two charges of -booting with intent to murder. The charges arise out of the shooting affray t-h a! occurred at. Era nksione during the police strike. Senior Constable Culliaiie and Constable Hrahain wore conducting ex-coiislabie Hannah to the look-tip on a charge of drunkenness, when Hun mill drew a revolver and wounded both constables in the shoulder. Graham’s injury was not serious, but Culbane had to be sent io the hospital. Hannah escaped, but was arrested on a charge of shooting with intent to nmnler. and was remanded until the 2b! I;. November.