AUSTRALIAN- NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN- NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.j

-MOST BRUTAL MURDER, HOBART, January 2. Patrick King, aged 58, was found lying in a street near the waterfront and died later in the hospital. He evidently was the victim of a brutal assault as bis pockets were rifled. The police think he was attacked bv two persons and killed with bottles. King’s skull was fractured. The police characterise it as one- of tho most brutal murders known in Hobart. i

MAN MURDERS WOMAN. PERTH, January 2. Aquilo Navarra, a Spaniard, fatally shot Airs Outliers of Fremantle. Later ho waded waist deep into the ocean and shot himself in the temple.

RADIANT’S CREW SAFE. PERTH, January 2. After clinging to the overtinaied yacht for nearly nine hours, the crew of the Radiant (cabled Inst night) were washed ashore. One man who became exhausted was tied to a boat by bis mates.

BIG BUSH FIRES. MELBOURNE. Jail. 3. The City is enveloped in a dense haze l from hush tiros that are raging iu the Tynong. Garfield and Berwick districts in Gippsland. The tires commenced oil Thursday, and they have extended until they arc within thirtyfour miles of Melbourne. At one time Tviiong itself was in danger of being enveloped. The fires have cause*! a weird effect in the city, tho smoke being blown right across tho sun. which, through the haze, presented a deep orange colour. The smoko was .so thick that it threw unlighted places into a deep shadow. Heavy damage has L.-on caused.

N.S.VY. UPPER HOUSE. SYDNEY. Jan. 3. A sensation has been caused in political circles by tho presentation to the Government of a memorial signed by more t-lian two dozen Members of the N..S-W. Legislative Council, asking for Payment for the members of tie- I'poei House. Ministerial circles regard the memorial as the deciding factor in she Council’s abolition, and the new appointees "ill lit- put to the test to enable the Government to see if the pledges they gave the Party to abolish ihe Up|K-r House are genuine. The payment demanded is three hundred sterling annually. The. members making the demand include anti-Labour as well as Labour

supporters. T(. is stated that after the petition "as presented to the Government, Homo .Members of the Conned struck, with the object of forcing the Government's hand, there being a remarkable fallingell in the Council attendances. Air Lang, the Premier, however, has countered this move by tho simple expedient. of threatening to bring down * Legislative Council Abolition Rill, which >■ already bring drafted.

PASSING TT ON. SYDNEY. Jan. !. To-day set's the inauguration of (lie fourty-four hour week throughout tho State. The shorter hours will mean

onsidorabiy more expense in big Go - rnnient departments, such as the r.-'il-

ivays. as the employment of some liunlreds extra men is necessitated. The oxtra expense occasioned to the conmotors of the big harbour bridge will ic borne by the Treasury under a spcciil provision in the contract.

QUEENSLAND RALNS. BRISBANE. Jan. I. Torrential ruins in Southern Queensland greatly bcnofitted the count ty. but the creeks and rivers rose rapidly, and some low-lying parts of the country and towns were Hooded.