AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. SALVAGE CLAIAf. SYDNEY, June IG. The hearing lias commenced of a claim against the owners of the Japanese steamer, Honolulu Ataru, which nearly was lost on April 12. ownig in tlie cargo shifting and the vessel listing greatly in a storm on the New South A\ ales Coast. The vessel was towed by the tug Champion. It was stated in evidence that the value of too Japanese steamer was £87,000, and the owners of the tug Champion claimed ten per cent, of this value. The question for the Court to decide was the amount of salvngo to be paid, as the salvage of the vessel was not disputed. SWALLOWED FORGET) CHEQUE. SYDNEY. June 16. During the busy banking hours on .Saturday, a man presented a cheque .it a Sydney hank. A question was raised regarding the signature. The man then snatched the cheque from the banker’s hand, rolled it into a hail, and swallowed it. The police were summoned. A strong emetic was administered to the man. who was detained.

THE RED SCOURGE. -MELBOURNE. June 16. Giving evidence before the Commission on National Insurance. Sir James Barrett condemned the baby bonus. It was one of the worst Acts ever introduced. It had not increased the birth rate or decreased the birth rate. I lie money will lie much bettor spent on maternity institutions. Referring to the prevalence of venereal disease, lie said that out of every hundred deaths in the Afelbourno Hospital, thirty wore syphilitic. Quito ten Per cent of the expectant mothers, he said were affected with the disease of syphillis. He urged that the remedy was early marriage and more complete education on the disease by wide publicity.

COAIAIITTED FOR TRIAL. SYDNEY, June 16. Airs Cohen, who was alleged to have thrown her two children into the I.arbour at the time of (he Fleet visit on 28h. Alay has been found not guilty on the charge of murdering her child aged ten months and was renni pled for I rial in a second charge of murdering ’lie other child aged three ye ir-. The recused pleaded not guilty and said that both deaths were due to accident.

NEW HEBRIDES CONTROL. JOINT COI RT A FAILURE. (Received this day at 1it.25 a.i11.) SYDNEY, June 17. Speaking of the efforts of the condominium in the New* Hebrides and referring to the Joint Court established under the convention, the Reverend E. Raff, who recently returned from Vila, said the composition of the Court was of a fantastic nature. Besides the French and British judges there was a. president appointed by the King of Spain who also appoints the public prosecutor. Neither of these could he i British or French subject. When :he Rev Raff went to the islands m 3)17 the President, a Spaniard, was on leave in Spain and he is still {here. He had not visited the Islands for more than seven years; so the presidency was being carried on by the public prosecutor, a Dutch man. whose itities iw turn are performed by tlie Registrar, a Belgian. One of the principal dimes entrusted to tlie Court ■s the settlement of land claims which the court was preparing to hear at the outbreaks of war. lint the business had been suspended owing to the absence in active service of many of the chumants’ witnesses. Although the war had ended in 11)18 no land claims had -o far been heard. It was a common report that (lie French Government had forbidden I Ip- conn to do «u. The Itev Half also charged the French administration with failure to ■■• oiled the lines imposed on French subjects for breaches of the recruitment and grog laws. He says the Court has no power to fund inn iti purely native affairs unless the natives ask for arbitration and a cumbrous mode of operation and opposition of the French Government make all attempts to administer law and justice abortive. CAPTAIN FOUND DEAD. HOILTRT. June 16 •lost before the steamer Port Hacking arrived tlie .Master, Captain •Strickland, was found dead on board. CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM. ADELAIDE. June 17. The Premier in the course of a statement said one of the first measures to be introduced bv Government, will be the Constitutional Reform of Parliament. lie said it would have to )>■• democratised to give etlect.to the will of the people. Government would endeavour to pass a Bill for proportional representation, also one reducing UnAssembly from forty-six to thirty-five. LUGGER LOST. PERTH. June 17. It lias been definitely established that the pearling lugger Eileen, cabled on the 14th. bus foundered. The crew are missing.

A FULL HMSprn ! . Al EI.BOURNE, June 17. Owing to a lack of accommodation, victims of accidents urgently in need of attention had to be refused admittance to Alelbourne Hospital on Saturday night. A large number were admitted during the day suffering from fractured limbs and other injuries. the floor space having to be continually used to accommodate pnlioius. Bv ten o’clock the superintendent i-stiod orders that it was impossible to receive any more male surgical cases. Among

those turned away was a man with a fractured skull. A HOLD-UP. .MELBOURNE. June 17. A private party composed of seven men, were playing cards and amusing themselves in various •.•••vs on Sunday night when four masked men armed with revolvers entered the room and ordered til! to put their hands up. They then searched the persons stud premises. seized money, jewellery and watches valued at over two hundred sterling and escaped in a ’motor ear. The police arrived a few minutes litter, but tip to the present there have lK'Oit no arrests. The bandits missed a valuable diamond ring which the owner managed to drop down the back ot bis neck. Another stuffed £l6O in large notes into bis mouth and saved them.

LONDON. June 16. The Genoa Conference has elected Branting (Sweden), President, and has appointed a committee *n deal wttii various subjects. THE AMERICAN I’LTERS. HONG KONG. June 16. The American fliers have arrived at Saigon.