AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1924, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N" Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION * MURDER THROUGH DRINK. BRISBANE, Dec. 27. David Williams, a timber-getter, was found shot dead at his home at Cedar Creek, near Samford. It is stated that Wililam.s and another man had Leon drinking together when a quarrel arose and there were threats of shooting. The other man left, but later returned. Mrs Williams set out for Samford, and had proceeded hut a short distance when she heard the sound of a shot. She returned and found the body of Williams on the bed with a gunshot wound in the breast. A large body of police are now searching for the other man. SHIPPING DISPUTES. JOB CONTROL IRRITATING. ADELAIDE Doconilier 27. Referring to the dispute which has arisen on tlie steamer Barunga, Mr Morphett. Secretary of the Adelaide Steamship Cov., said that job control was making it almost impossible for shipowners to carry on the transport services of the Commonwealth in a satisfactory way. A vessel was ready for sea on Wednesday when it was found that three of the stokehold hands were missing. Two later returned, but __ the crow refused to sail without the missing man. There were a number of firemen on shore, but none of them would gii to sea and so tlie vessel is still held ui). TAKEN BY SURPRISE. SYDNEY. December 27. It is generally boieved on the waterfront there there will he no concerted action on the part of the shipowners unless their hands are forced treme union action. The members of the Maritime Union wen* disconcerted by the move of __ the i nter-State Shipping Companies paying off the crews id eight vessels at Melbourne and Geelong. The shipowners state tlie laying -up of those vessels, which colliers have no connection with the shipping trouble, would have keen taken out of commission in any case this season. CHINESE. CREW! DESERTS. SYDNEY December 27. The overseas steamer Arabian is held ii]i at Frecinaiitle owing to her Chinese crew numbering fort.v-two having deserted. They had asked for improved conditions. ~ _ WET BONING DAY. MELBOURNE. December 27. For the third tuircessive year Boxing Day fixtures have had to lie postponed, but races at Caulfield were proceeded with, and small crowds watched the events from under umbrellas. To lunch 17!) (mints of rain had fallen. ACCIDENTS MAR XMAS. MELBOURNE, Decemlier 27.. The list of serious accidents, tlio number whereof is almost a record, marred the Xmas holidays ill Melbourne. Altogether four persons wero __ ; killed and many others were more,or less seriously injured. A large proportion of the accidents. arc connected with motor vehicles, the mest serious being at Malvern where two men wero killed.