AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

cv . [Australia it N.Z. Cable Association.J FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME. MELBOURNE. Dec. 8. 'Die Legislative programme for the forthcoming Federal session will occupy the attention of members for about six mouths. Mr IB •me leaves for London about ■.September next to attend an Imperial Conference.

DAMAGE TO STEAMERS. SYDNEY, December f). An examination of the steamers Chillagoe and Suva revealed extensive damage to both vessels. They will he in dock several weeks. FEDERAL SENATE ELECTION. A LABOUR DEBACLE. (Received this day at 10.0 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 0. The Senate election count has been completed and has resulted in the debacle of all Labour candidates throughout the Commonwealth. The final figures are:— .Ministerialist 27 Labour 0 Everv one of the twenty-two Senators elected was a nominee of either the Country or Nationalist Parties. N.S.M". DRINK BILL. SYDNEY. December !). The Government statistician's figures show the drink hill in New South "Wales for the past year amounted In ;L‘11,070,000, which is eipial to LA .'is 7d per head of the population, being an increase of C 321,000 or eleven pence per head of the. population as compared with the preceding year. AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYM EN. MELBOURNE, December 0. In applying to the Arbitration Court for an interim award pending the completion of the bearing of the Union’s claims, the secretary of the Australian Railwayman's Unions said lie could not restrain tile members of IPs union much longer from resorting to means other than arbitration In gain their ends. Ho complained that the basic wage at present paid to the railwayu>cn in Victoria was so low that it was causing acute suffering. THE SEAMEN CONDESCEND. PERTH, December 0. After the vessel had been delayed at Kreemantle for six weeks owing to the industrial trouble, the seamen’s union decided to supply fuel for the steamer Karoola. R EPROM A OF JOURNALISM. SYDNEY, December 0. The University Senate has decided, subject to approval by ttie Faculty of Arts on the proposed curriculum, and sufficient funds being available, a diploma of journalism lie established at the Sydney University.

.MELBOURNE AVOOL KALES. MELBOURNE, December 0. The December series of wool sales have concluded. Competition was brisk and late rates were well maintained. CONVERSION LOAN OVKR-SURKC'RIBKD. MELBOURNE. December 0. The Federal Treasurer has announced that the conversion loan of sixtv-seven millions has been over-subscribed. I! UK 11 F fR.F.S. SYDNEY. Dec. 0. Rush (ires in the AVagga district, suspected to be due to incendiarism extensively damaged the crops. An arrest lias been made. AUSTRALIA’S POPULATION SYDNEY, Dec. !). Since the census of 11)21. the population of Australia has increased by half a million to 5.957.505. Births accounted for seventy pel 1 cent, of the increase. N.S.AY. POLITICS. SYDNEY. Dec. !>. In the Assembly Air Bavin moved the adjournment of the House to discuss the failure of the Government to institute inquiries into the allegation of the existence of a plot by Nat hinn,fists to brill© certain Labour members. The motion as ruled out of order.

The Widows Pensions Bill was read a third time and transmitted to the Legislative Council. In tin l latter Chamber the (lovernment was again challenged, while the second reading debate was proceeding on the Parliamentary electorates and elections Amendment tßill. providing for the return to the'single scat system. An amendment was moved providing for single seats with the preferential voting svstom. Willis who is in charge of the Bill, refused to accept the amendment, staling it was a direct challenge to the Government which the attitude of the Council was placing in an intolerable position. Personally ho would prefer an appeal to the country. The amendment was eventually dropped. STORY OE A BRACELET. ADELAIDE, December 9.

Some months ago Air Codlirnn, a taxi-cab proprietor, purchased a cab from, another city owner and finding a difficulty in raising the window he discovered a tarnished bracelet at the bottom of the aperture. He thought it valueless and gave it to his children to play with. The latter offered it to a dealer for l.As, which was refused. Subsequently, the dealer returned and offered £SO which was refused. C'odhran then took the bracelet to a diamond merchant and was informed that each of the forty-seven stones was a diamond valued at £3. The stones are set in platinum and the total value of the bracelet was £l4O. The police next stepped in and found the original owner, Mrs AVnterhouse, who was under th© impression that she had dropped the bracelet out of the taxi window when driving home in 1924.