AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

A BIG BUSH FIRE. .MELBOURNE, January 19,

Raging on a fifteen miles front, a Lush fire on llio slopes of Mount Buffalo has caused extensive damage.

THE KAROOLA SAILING. PERTH, January 19. The steamer Kamola, held up at Fremantle since October, owing to the Seamen's Union refusing to supply a crew, lias secured a full complement and i< sailing on Wednesday. MARINE STEWARDS-. RECIPROCITY All RANG EMENT SEVERED. SYDNEY. Jan. 20. The reciprocity arrangement between the Sydney Branch of the Marine Stewards’ Union and the New Zealand Cooks and Stewards Union, has been terminated, following on the refusal of the Now Zealand Union to allow members of the Sydney Union on the steamer Makura when that ship went out of commission to join I lie other New Zealand ships. The agreement was terminated by the Sydney Union as the officials claim the agreement was dishonoured by the action of the New Zealand Union. This means that in future all New Zealand members on Australian ships will tie compelled to transfer to the Australian organisation if they wish to retain their positions. WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY. A DETECTIVE’S INVESTIGATION. MELBOURNE. Jan. 20. Following on the report of a detective appointed by the Federal Government to inquire into the alleged smuggling of Chinese into the Commonwealth with the purpose of defeating the White Australia Policy, in pursuance of the tenets of a secret society. with branches in Hong Kong and Darwin, the Government has t!o----cided to take certain action, the nature of which is not disclosed. Although the result of the detective’s investigations have been kept secret, is is known two suspects linvo departed from Hong-Kong and that the organisation’s headquarters are in Hong Kong.

TROPICAL DELUGE. SYDNEY, January 20. A tropical deluge accompanied by thunder and lightning, caused damage to many business premises by flooding. The fire brigade were called to pump out several cellars. Many low-lying parts of the suburbs are under water. Traffic is blocked owing to debris causing the trains to leave the rails. At Pvrmont the water- rose to a height of three feel. There were 180 points of rain fell in two hours. CRICKETERS ACCEPT. SYDNEY, January 20. All the twelve cricketers so far invited to participate in the tour to England have accepted. CASE OF MEASLES. FREMANTLE, January 20. A case of sickness reported on the steamer Ifa loin, cabled on Monday, is now officially diagnosed as measles.