AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION, DRINKING PARTY TRAGEDY. -AN ARRESTED FOR. MURDER. »Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) MELBOURNE, March 26. The sequel to several women and men engaging in a drinking party on the banks of the Yarra, at Collingwood. the body of a woman, Maud Anderson, has been recovered from the river and subsequently a man, Pnutiienet, was arrested, on a charge of murder. An eye-witness, Hogan, informed the police that he saw a man drag Anderson over the river hank and she immediately sank. The man struck Hogan for attempting to interfere. After fighting, Hogan left the other. Evidently the tragedy followed a quarrel over Is Od, which the man gave Anderson, and which he wanted returned.

CONSPIRACY CASE. MELBOURNE, March 26

In the Murray Conspraey Case lor the defence, Leslie Taylor was callc' as a witness to prove that he was attending a wedding celebration party at quite another place to that alleged by the police on the day of the attemptoil prison escape.

Tool in also set up a similar alihiaud also denied that lie had ever agreed to assist Murray to escape. He < not know such a plan was proposed. AUSTRALIAN COAL TROUBLE. (Received this day at 10.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 27. Representatives of the Northern coal owners waited on the Premier and discussed the repeated stoppages at the mines. No official statement was made. Eight pits are still idle. GOLD RUSH IN N.S.W. SYDNEY, March 27. Excitement- was caused in the Ardlothan district as the result of a rich discovery of gold fourteen miles from the township. It is stated that samples from the shallow reef, which is eighteen feet wide, yielded fifteen ounces to the ton. A rush is m progress and much adjoining ground lias been pegged. WESTR AI A A N E L ECTION. PERTH, March 27. The state of the parties is unaltered. AUSTRALIA’S NAVY. MELBOURNE, March 27 It is unofficially stated the proposed new cruisers will each he of ten thousand tons, irff.ii a long cruising range to enable them to patrol the Commonwealth trade routes. General approval of the construction is expressed in federal circles, though labour members indicated they would opjHise the expenditure on the vessels unless they were both built in Australia.

When introducing a bill nuthoisMiig the construction Mr Bruce is expected also to announce to the House, the decision of the Government lb extend the air force and a proposal to obtain several modern submarines from Great Britain.

A RIVER TRAGEDY. MELBOURNE, March 27. The police are finding great liffieuily in ascertaining the facts of the ('o'' l acwood tragedy as most of those pvo-.cnf. were in a muddled condition and unable to give a coherent account of t’mir movements. The majority of them fro stated to be confirmed methylated spirits drinkers. Workmen from a factory on the opposite side of the. river informed the police that they saw a man dragging a woman to the b’. ah, but the view was obstructed b,v trees. One of their number ran to the part;, who were crossing the bridge and teal them a woman was being thrown into the river, but no notice was taken of him.

A SERIOUS CHARGE

BLENHEIM, March 27. Aii old man named James Ryan was committed tor trial, charged with indecent assault and attempted indecent relations with girl of 13. Accused pleaded not guilty. ROWING. BLENHEIM, March 27. Following on a letter, Rat Hannan, Australian sculling champion received from Mr Hornhow (Mayor of Dnrgaville). there is a possibility that the forthcoming match between Hannan and Dick A rust will lie rowed on Wa.iroa River.