AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[BY TF.LECI’.Arn —PER. TRESS ASSOCIATION*]

BIG FIRES, (SYDNEY, May •!. A fire destroyed a block of shops at Tarco. Tho damage is estimated at £23,000. Fire partially destroyed Paige Motor Company’s premises, one of tho biggest garages in the city. Tho damage is extensive. While inside tho building two firemen were injured bv a. falling beam and were sent to hospital. OLYMPIC TEAM. SYDNEY. May 1. The Lawn Tennis Association having guaranteed the necessary amount, AVallard and Bayley will join the Olympic team on the Ormonde at Melbourne. PRICK OK BETTER INCREASED. SYDNEY. -May 3. The wholesale price of butter has itirther lieen increased by a penny per pound. A CORRECTION. SYDNEY, May 3. Tne lire which yesterday occurred was at tho National Motor Garage, not the Paige .Motor Company. RKLLBIKI) COLLIERY UNSEALED. SYDNEY. May 5. The Bellbird Colliery lias been unsealed for the first time since tho disaster in September last. A party (itted with oxygen apparatus entered, and commenced a search for the bodies of the six miners that remained entombed when the mine was sealed. TKA.MWAY.MEN IDLE. MELBOURNE. May •3. Three thousand cable tramway cmployees are idle. The trouble- threatens to extend to the whole tramway se,viics. both electric and cable. SHIPPINO TROUBLES. ißeceived this day at 10.23 a-m.j SYDNEY, .May li. The fear is expressed on tin* waterfront that trouble is likely to develop to-day on the Commonwealth liner Llohson Bay. which ye.-tenlay completed the round voyage. Tho old crew finishes up to-day. and it is when the i now crew is to lie* sii'iioii on tiuit j trouble is expected.

A deadlock has been readied m the dispute in regard to the -learners Katuomlia and Karoola. and it is regarded as certain that the owners will not attempt to man the shins unless guarantees are forthcoming against, further interference.

MARTY ENTERS BELLBIRD COLLIERY.

SYDNEY. May th

The party which entered the Bellbird colliery yesterday report they sawno signs of tire and met no falls of coal, which means that the prospects of investigating the position are bright. About an hour was spout underground. MELBOURNE TRAM STRIKE. AN UGLY SITUATION. MELBOURNE. May d. Ail ugly situation occulted in connection with the tramway strike when two constables who were passing the crowd which had congregated outside the Socialist Hall were subjected to hooting and abuse. The constables, after being threatened by the crowd, turned and made oil with a large section of the mob in pm-tut. They lutd gone about one hundred yards when one of them turned and ft red a revolver at the ci-owti. The cartridge was a blank one. but it had the elici t < ? ■topping pursuit. The incident appear- to hiV.e put tile uir.nl in an aiigrv mood a- s-’Vcral '.reel tights followed. Shortly alter a detachment of police arrived and dispersed the gathering. Following on the disturbance* two arrests wen* made. Many of the crowd threatened tin* police who we**e making the arrests. Iml alter sum;* trouble the angry section was quelled. All troopers have been ordered to be ready lor immediate action anti polite leave has been cancelled. No trams twin run yesterday except on some electric circuits, but the full effect will not be fell till tu-dav as yesterday was a holiday. T!u* Railway Department ran many extra trains to cope with the l fit Hie. The Yirtorian Branch of the Australian Railway Union meets to-night when it is expat ted the tramway strike and the railway employee.;' altitude will he discussed. An official of the Tramway Board stated that until the cable trams ceased yesterday they had hi ■uniting continuously except on Sunday morni 11 e_rs for A meeting of the T'lainwav Union passed a resolution placing the matter ill the hands Ilf the Trades Hall Disputes Commiltce. the men also lavouriug a light to a lini~h.