AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

I [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association. 1 A UNION FINED. SYDNEY, February 8. The Ship Painters’ and Dockers’ Union has l>eeii fined £4O for participating in a strike on January 21st. The Arbitration Court, in inflicting the penalty, said that if it had not been for the maimer in which the management of -Marts Dock conducted themselves, which gave ground for irritation, the Union would have lieen fined £IOO. HEAT WAVE IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, Feh. 8. The city of Sydney is sweltering in a heat wave, the temperature reaching 106 degrees in the shade to-day, tho highest February reading ever recorded here. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. SYDNEY, Fell. 8. The wool sales resumed to-day. Coinpetition was general with a good demon id for all good fleece wools of even quality, and the best lines of skirtings. Prices ruled on a par with the rates of the previous series, hut lines of irregular quality and dusty and doubtful yielding wools and burry skirtings were irregular. Comebacks and cross-

breds were unchanged. Greasy nun Merino .mb.l at 3W, pem-e pc-r lb. COMMONWEALTH LINE STEAMER SOLD. (Received this day at 11.9 a.m.) SYDNEY, Eeh. 9. The Commonwealth Line steamer Eutluiula bus is-c u sold to Burns. Philip and Company. She will be used for the island trade and trade with the East. FEDERAL PUBLIC DEBT. MELBOURNE. Ebb. !). The total public debt of the Common wealth at the 31st. Dec. last was .£149.483,858, of which the war debt was £300,000,000. Included in items of expenditure were the Commonwealth elections, £92,000, deportation proceedings £4.354 and Commonwealth Representation at Dunedin Exhibition

£ 1960. STRAW-BOARD MILL DESTROYED. MELBOURNE. - Eeh. 9. Damage estimated at £.30,(T1P was caused by. a lire which started amongst .stacks of waste near the premises of the Commonwealth hoard mills at A!>botsford. The waste comprised heaps of straw and other materials used in the manufacture of straw board. BUTTER M, ST BE SHIPPED. MELBOURNE. Feb. 9. The Dairy Produce Control Board lias decided that all butter under first grade witli-lield under order of tbo Board up to the Bt.li. February, must be shipped to the Uni tod Kingdom at the first opportunity. HEAT WAVE IN N.SAV. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 9. The maximum reading of the thermometer yesterday was 107.8. It then dropped in three-quarters of an hour to ninety-six, but as the temperature dropped humidity increased. High unofficial readings are reported from the suburbs. The maximum sun temperature was 162.2. Two men wore overcome by the heat, and taken to the hospital. Twenty head of cattle at the Fleniingtim sale yards dropped dead and dozelis of young calves were affected. Lives were endangered and heavy damage done by bush fires which raged round Sydney. Owing to the great beat the Rankstmvn district suffered worst, and the fires there are still burning. Firemen and civilians worked like iroians and many were overcome by heat and smoke. In the country fires are still raging furiously. Several hundred acres of valuable timber was destroyed in Miirragnidrie State pine forest. The limber is valued at £25,000. N.SAV. PARLIAMENT. SYDNEY, February P. The new session of the State Parliament will bo opened at midday to-day bv commission. The pieinier has announced that business will be proceeded with immediately after the opening ceremony. At the pro-sessional caucus meeting of the Labour Party all were present, and the office bearers were re-elected. A heated discussion on the Single Seats Bill occupied practically the whole sitting. many country members expressing opposition to the first-past-the-post system of voting, hut the measure was ultimately accepted. GABLES DELAYED. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 9. The t'ahles aie delayed owing to a break in the wires between Sydney and Adelaide, probably due to hush fires.