AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1925, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] N.S.W. SOLDIER SETTLEMENT. SYDNEY, Dec. 22. TIkB Lands Department report states the total expenditure in New South Wales on soldiers' settlements since the inauguration of the scheme amounts to £17,371,539 and that 9098 soldiers were allotted farms covering an area ot 8,081,070 acres. A NEW COMET. SYDNEY, Dec. 22. Mr Cook, Government astronomer has received cabled advice that Emopean astronomers have discovered a new comet which they named Ensoi. Mr Cook located the cornet, which is moderately bright and of about the eighth magnitude. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LIBERALS. ADELAIDE, December 22. A meeting of the Liberal Party appointed Mr R. L. Butler as leader of the party in succession to Mr Harwell. VICTORIAN POLITICS. A CRISIS INEVITABLE. MELBOURNE. Dec. 22. The Assembly, for the third time, rejected the advice of the Legislative Council to amend the income tax proposals. A crisis is now inevitable and probably the. Labour Party will bo asked to form a Ministry or an appeal will lie made to the country. NSW. LAND REPORT. SYDNEY, Dec. 22. The annual report, o! the Department of Lands shows that there is little more than twenty million of Crown lands now unoccupied in New South Wales, and of Ibis the greater part is reserved for necessary public purposes, or is unsuitable for settlement. ■RUTTER STABILISATION SCHEME. SYDNEY, Dec. 22. Tlio Australian. Stabilisation Committee has decided that the Paterson scheme, which provides for a levy of I’d per pound on all grades of butter manufactured in the Commonwealth and the pavmeul of 3d per pound export Immiltv on all butter exported on which the levy is paid shall operate from the first of January. GIRL SHOPLIFTERS. PERTH, Dee. 22. \„ extraordinary story of systematic of shoplifting by young girls was related in the Children's Court when three different ease, were hoard. One. a girl of 171 years o age. hob - incr a good position in a city establishment stole £BO worth of frocks and other goods from city emporiums, concealing the stolen goods under her overcoat. To the other eases, two girls aged sixteen and seventeen were similarly charged and all were released on bonds to he of good liehaviour.

RUTTER CONTROL. NS W WITH-HOLDING SHIPMENT. SYDNEY. Dec. 22. The. Dairy Produce Control Board has decided that in view of the quantity of unsold butter at present in London, and the heavy shipments being sent forward from New Zealand and Australia to relieve the anticipated congestion bv with-holding m Austin--lin a.” per cent, of the production for export from about the middle of January onward. Arrangements have been made with the Commonwealth and Associated Banks to enable advances similar to those now made to exporters upon butter actually shipped, to be obtained upon the percentage which will be withheld. HUGE BUS IT EIRE. MELBOURNE. Dee. 22. A hush fire is raging in Rnbicorn Forest, comprising over eighty thousand acres. Unless rain falls, there is danger of the whole finest being wiped out. The fire is characterised by the Chief Inspector of Forests as the worst, in the history of Victoria. It has travelled at amazing speed, and at one time it was five miles long, a quarter of a mile wind, and one hundred foot high. There have lieen many narrow escapes. Up lo the present the fire, has made n clean sweep of seven square miles of some nT the finest timber reserved in the B‘tatc of Victoria.