AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAULE ASSOCIATION. AFSTBALIA'S POPULATION. MELBOURNE, June 13 The Commonwealth statistician reports that, the population of Australia is 3,7",202. There has licen tin increase of 311,328 during the past three years. There are now 112,171 less women than men in the Commonwealth. OIL FI BE DAMAGE. MKLBOI'BNK. June M. Two 17,00!) gallon oil tanks at the Commonwealth Oil Refinery Works at Altona were greatly damaged and the oil contents destroyed by a lire. Has from the burning oil exploded, and blew the roofs off both tanks and the pumn houses nearly ignited. The engines and pumps were destroyed. The damage has not been estimated.

DAMAGES AWARDED. SYDNEY. Juno 13

In the Banco Court, Joint White secured a verdict for £ol() against the Davis Gelatine Company. Australasia. Ltd., for alleged breach of a charter party. The plaintiff, who claimed £3300 damages, stated it was agreed by tin; charted party that the defendant’s ship the 11. K. Hall, then at Lyttelton. should proceed to Malden Island to load a cargo of guano, which would lie taken to New Zealand and delivered on payment of freight. The allegation was that the defendant failed to carry out the agreement. Defendants pleaded they did not agree its alleged and that they woto prevented from carrying out. the agreement by dangers and perils of the sea. A stay of proceedings was granted.

ANOTHER JAP STEAMER AGROUND. (Received this day at 51.13 a.til.) SYDNEY. June It

The Japanese steamer Fgamaru is reported to lie aground at .Manila. The ves-el has on hoard live thousand tons of coal for Manila which will have to lie lightered. CITY OF SINGAPORE FI BE. (Received this day at 51.23 a.i11.) ADELAIDE, June II At the inquest into the death of Albert Grccnham. the fireman who lost !<is. life in the lire on the steamer City of Singapore, the chief inspector of explosives gave evidence to the effect that lie had come to the cdmiTuHoii the lire was due to the spontaneous combustion of the coal. The explosion was probably due to a mixture of coal, gas and air. NEW FEDERAL MINISTER. Received tnis dnv nt P. 23 a.m ) MELBOURNE. June It. It i-. announced that 11. E. Prat tea has been appointed Minister of Trade. Customs and Health in succession In nr Chapman, retired.