AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

AUBTBALIAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. AUDITOR-G EXER AI.’S A LLEG ATIONS. SYDNEY, December IS. The Auditor-General in his annual report which was presented to Parliament, referring to the Murrumbidgce irrigation arrears owing to the commission hy settlers, principally soldier settlers, are of such magnitude as to cause concern. They have advanced during the year from £1,883805 to £2,172,051. Of this amount the Treasury has provided C 1,991,303 to finance settlers, securities therefore being improvements in most ease and movable assets on the farms. The data available, says ihe report, exhibits undoubted evidence that many of the settlors have utterly disregarded their liability to account for tho securities for advances made them by the commission and in many cases it must he assumed that theft has been perpetrated. Tho report instanced several eases where stock and plant had been supplied to settlers and on forfeiture of their farms only part of it, or nothing, had been accounted for.

A DENTAL. SYDNEY. Dec. IS. The .Manager of the General Australian Agency of Lloyd Snhando line, referring to the demands of MeWhao, cabled yesterday, says the only Italian steamers carrying passengers to and from Australia are those of Lloyds Salmndo line and Xavigatziono General Italians, which run a joint service. Fares range from £3O 10s to £3B 10s. No deck passengers are now carried by Italian steamers trading to Australia. The meals provided are substantial, and the conditions whereunder immigrants travel are set out hy the Italian Government. The Italian Consul also denies McWlmo’s remarks. PORT KEIMULA CASES. <Received this day nt. 8 a.m.) ' SYDNEY. Dee. 18. The Industrial Court adjourned the hearing for a month, of the Port Keml;la cases pending a settlement of the dispute KEEN COMPETITION. SYDNEY, Decemlior 19. The closing wool sales of the half year were characterised by keen competition and prices for nearly all descriptions were in the sellers’ favour compared with late rates. Greasy merino sold to 41’d. A POLICE THEORY. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) SYDNEY. December 19. After questioning the man arrested at Liverpool on Wednesday night ill connection with the Lithgow murder, the police have concluded that he knows nothing about the crime. The latest advices from the scene state the police are inclined to believe that it may have possibly been a case of suicide. LEPERS CURED. BRISBANE'. December 19.

Three patients of the Peel Island lazaretto have been declared free from h'orosv and thev "ill he released, but will remain under the observation of the Health Department- and will lie required to continue the treatment with Clmulmoogra. oil.

A PROSPECTOR'S LUCK. DARWIN. December 19. A prospector named Wickham arrived at Wyndham with a sugar hag full of gold specimens broken from u quart/, blow near the Northern Territory border. Some specimens are stated to have assayed at fifty-two ounces to the ton. The place discovered is approachable only hy camel transport. SHIPPING DISPUTES. MEN LEAVE SIMP. BRISBANE. Dec. 19. When tho steamer Canberra arrived, ten members ol the (lew who had given the reqe sile notice left the ship and owing to the difficulty ill filling the vacancies her departure had to he postponed. Tho trouble is a continuation of the dispute which delayed the vessel at Sydney.

The Secretary of tho local branch of the Seamen’s Union hits sent a letter to the manager of the Shipping Cov., stating the men who left the vessel were dissatisfied at the non-payment of claims made by them. If the claims are met unconditionally the men will he quite prepared to return to tho ship. The Secretary added the men will not fill the vacancies owing to the above dispute and lie considers the matter should he amicably settled at the conference.

QUEENS LA XI) PREMIERSHIP. BRISBANE December 19. Speaking nt Townsville, Mr ’I hoodoro announced that lie would retire from the Premiership of the State about the beginning of February. A DEPRESSING COMPARISON. SYDNEY. December 1!). A Repressing; comparison of the increase 'in pifod nothin in Australia and the constant increase in State debts nns made by the Federal Treasurer, Dr Earl Page, before his departure for Canada. He said that while on the 30th. of June, 1911, State debts amounted to £21 1 ,000,000, they had increased since to nearly £570.fXIO.OOO as compared with twelve years previously. The increase was more than one hundred per cent while tho increase in population was only twentytwo per cent during tlie same period. The value of production increased from £188,101.000 to £340,002.000. this being an increase of eighty-live per cent. However, taking the relative values between 1911 and 1923, production in the latter year icpresented a value of only £221,000.000. or an increase of seventeen per cent. In the year 1911-12 the .States had met an interest hill of £lO.419.003. hut in 1921-22 the bill was £42,052.232. Tll addition to State debts the Commonwealth debts were £415,000.000 whereof eighty millions were recoverable.

EARTHQUAKE fatalities. MANILLA. Decemlier 18. Til the earthquake at Hick dock. Suri/ao and Mindanao Islands, twenty-four persons were killed and foit,i-scion injured. PEOIM.TNO OF AUSTR ALIA. MELBOURNE. Dec. lE. Replying to the letter from Sir Ceo. Fuller 'regarding the influx of Jern Europeans. Mr Bruce (.I'odwal Ihomier) sets out figures showing the total arrival' of Europeans in the ''hole of Australia during the nine months ended 13th. September as follows:--Bri-tish of).OSS. Italians 2333. Creeks 10c>. Maltese 218. other Europeans, mduding French, Jugo Shivs. Mied. s etc. ‘‘‘mV Bruce says the foregoing show that no apprehension need beMelt from the point of view of tlu ’ ul ‘ peopling the Commonwealth with Aneln-Saxon settlers. _