AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[by TELEGRAPH —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHOPPING CONTEST. SYDNEY, April 18. At the Agricultural Show, the woodchopping contest, with a fifteen-inch standing log, was won by McCarthy, with Apps and Cuff a dead heat for second place. Kelly was fourth. The time was Iniin. lOsecs. SYDNEY, April 19 The show attendance is a record. In the fifteen inch Blaekbutt woodshopping competition Appn (New Zealand) got fourth and in the double banded sawing contest Appo and Kenny tied with a Tasmanian pair for second. THE HOLIDAY SYDNEY, April If). There was glorious weather for the holiday and a great crowd at the show and holiday resorts. Otherwise, there was the usual semi-religious observance SYDNEY. April !". H.AI.S. Herald has arrived to replace TEALS. Fantome as surveying ship on the Australian Naval Station. TRAGEDY ON CRUISER. • Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 17.

A double tragedy occurred aboard the cruiser llrislano lying at Garden Island. In the early hours of the morning, a signalman heard groans tween decks and investigating, he found George Ritchie, an ordinary seaman, aged 18, a native of Brisbane lying in his hunk with a sharp pointed hammer driven through his skull, and his throat cut. He was just expiring. There was no due to the perpetrator till the roll was called, and it disclosed that George Brown, a cook, a resident of Yarraville, Yictoria, was missing. A lengthy search ended in finding him in tlie refrigerator room with a cord tied in a slip knot to the neck, and attached to part of the machinery, dead from strangling, as the feet were touching the ground and body upright, leaning taut against » lit; cord. Men sleeping near Ritchie saw or heard nothing, except an empty razor case found near Brown's bunk. It is: also reported that Brown had peculiar habits lately. Certain complaints were made regarding him. some comrade's having doubts regarding bis sanity. So far as is known the relations between Ritchie and Brown were good. The accepted theory is that Brown killed Ritchie and then committed suicide. Tlie police believe from made that' Brown sometimes suffered from homicidial mania. ON LEA YE. SYDNEY. April 19 John Alilward, manager of the I’aeific Cable Board has started oil an extended leave prior to his retirement after twenty-two years in the Boanl’s service. He returns to London. LABOR UPSET. SYDNEY, April 19 The opening day of the Australian Labour Party’s annual eoiifoi'enre was marked by lively proceedings. After luncheon adjournment a certain excluded member approached the President with a view to moving to a larger hall. The conference agreed t ' this, but when they took possession a crowd of several hundred outside demanded admission, forced their way in, flooded the hall and took posses sion of the proceedings, lor a lime were very rowdy. Ample policemen were called and the hubbub ceased and the meeting adjourned to a later hour. During the hubbub charges and counter charges were lreely made by Communist and other sections. Willis (Chairman) said lie expected trouble and declared it was the outcome of an organised otlenmt to' force their haiuL and disorganise tlie conference. For a long time feeling run h.'gli between Communist and Moderate sections. The conference