AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

‘.UUTILALIAN AND N.Z. CADLK AHSOOIATION. TELEGRAPHIC MATES. (Received tliis day at 11.25 a.ni.) MELROURNE, October 28. According to the Postmaster-Gener-al, a proposal is to lie submitted when Parliament meets embodying a scheme for an increase in long distance telegraph rates. Jt is claimed the present is altogether too cheap. 'I lie Postmaster-General has received a recommendation from the Postmas-ter-General of Jlritain specifying efforts are being made by the British Post Office and by the Oxford wireless station to ensure a regular supply of current news to ships inward and outward hound. The service will cover seventeen thousand words weekly. TE A PM ICES I? AISED. SYDSEY. Oct. 2S. A number of wholesale tea houses have advanced the price of tea by twopence per pound. It is understood most, if not till the others, will make a similar advance. The causes given lor the increase are higher prices ruling in producing icntres. the exchange rate and a keener general demand. THE PURSER CASE. SYDNEY. Oct. 28. According to Sydney ring men. the absence of Heroic from the Melbourne Cun, consequent of the disqualifications being upheld as the outcome of the Purser case, will mean the loss of many thousands to the local bookmakers. who had speculated heavily on the horse’s chances. DOUBLE TRAGEDY. SYDNEY. Oct. 28? It is reported from Ttituhorumba in the Alliury district, that the bodies of Patrick AYollf and a woman, supposed to be Amy Turner, were found lying together • with bullet wounds in the heads. Apparently the woman was first killed, ami then NYolir suicided, pulling the trigger with his toe. There are no details. SERIOUS FIRE. SYDNEY. Oct. 28. A file at Narramine. in tin* Duhho district, gutted nine shops. The (lain age is estimated at many thousands. SHIPPING TROUIII.E. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, October 28. The hold-up of the steamer Yolumnia at Frccmantle is regarded in shipping circles as a deliberate attempt on the part of the maritime unions to prevent the Commonwealth line from running other than Australian registered vessels. Owing to the paucity of homeward cargoes the Commonwealth line found it necessary to reduce the sailings of cargo steamers from Anstarlia to the United Kingdom. In order, however, to maintain outward shipments they chartered three Ibitish vessels to load for Australian ports and the first of these to arrive is the Yolumnia, which will he handed over to her owners on the completion of the voyage at Newcastle to load wheat lor Home. It is stated to he the intention of the union to hold up the other two chartered steamers, the Gian .Monroe and the Huron Macl.ay, which are due in December and January respectively. A meeting of the Newcastle branch of the seamen’s union decided to endorse the resolution of the Sydney bedv that no overtime lie worked.

CHIME IN MELBOUBNK. MELBOURNE, October 28. The returns of crimes reported to the detective office show that last week’s number was nearly a record. In all 122 thefts of property were notified. the owners estimating the value at C 1,300. Properly stolen during the week-end alone was valued at L'l 10. fall on postal bevf.ni e. MELBOURNE, October 28. The reduction in the postage rates from twopence to a penny half-penny, which has been ill operation now for twelve months, has, according to a statement by the Postmaster-General, resulted in a falling nil' of revenue to the Department of approximately L’1,100,000. The recent awards of the Commonwealth Arbitral ion Court granting increased wages to employees have increased the Department’s wages lull by about 1 100,000. Under the circumstances there is little likelihood ol a return to penny postage m the "car future.