AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] BUTTER. PRICE RAISED. MELBOURNE, February 22. The wholesale price of butter was today advanced 9s Id per hundredweight. under the Paterson scheme. This advance will take effect throughout the Commonwealth. X.S.AY. MINERAL OUTPUT. SYDNEY. February 23. The State mineral output for 1925 is valued at 919.103.991. being 9185.903 in excess of. the previous year and constitutes a record. COST OF A FRESH START. SYDNEY, February 23. After inspecting the fire in the ravaged districts, the Secretary to the Cabinet, states that apart from t'lie work which will devolve upon the Government. lietweeu ,91.20.000 and 9150,0(H) will be required to give the sufferers a fresh start. CRIMINALS ESCAPE BRISBANE. Fell. 22. Two notorious criminals escaped from Stewarts Creek Gaol, at. Townsville, and are still at large. Their escape was accomplished by cutting through iron bars with a small hack saw, and then lowering fhemselve.s to the ground by a rope made of tlieir blankets. ABOLITION HILL. ITS DEFEAT PREDICTED. SYDNEY. Feb. 23. The fight over the Abolition Bill will be resumed this afternoon when Mr AYilli.s, in the Legislative Council, will move for leave to introduce the measure at the stage where it was left last session.

According to Llie oniiiious. recently expressed in tile lobbies, leave to introduce (be Bill will be granted and the second reading division will be math' the vital issue. It i.s generally believed the Bill will be deleated by a small majority. GUILTY OF .MANSLAUGHTER. MELBOURNE. Feb. 23. Henry Taeke, who was charged with the murder of Mrs Rachel Currell. who wtls shot dead in front, of her house at St. Kildn on 15th. Dec., was found guilty of manslaughter and was remanded for sentence. HEAT WAVE BROKEN. SYDNEY. February 23. I lie protracted heat wave has broken over a greater part of the State, whore cool showery weather is reported. ANIMAL BREEDING. SYDNEY. February 23. The Royal Agricultural Society is milking a definite move in the direction of organising efforts for tin* improvement of animal breeding. The Council has selected Dr G. F. Finlay of Sydney University, who lias spent a considerable period in bailing centres abroad studying animal genetics, (» deliver lectures at the furthcoming Faster Show on animal breeding. Subsequently lie is to undertake the organisation of a. campaign in the same direct ion among breeders. Finlay is a New Zealander by birth. ELECTRIC TRAINS. SYDNEY AND .MEL ROUE.NIC SYDNEY, Feb. 11. The people living along one of Hie populous suburban lines got. a shock a day or two ago when they saw thundering along at 50 miles an hour a train which; was without an engine; and without smoke, and which was controlled by a I "ailing vehicle not unlike a Irani. Il was the first electric train to run in New South AYales. Features of the electric trains arc their speed, espcciallv in getting under way. the unostental ions way in wliiili they glide into and out of a station, what, is claimed to lx practically their foolproof control, and the fact that they do not pollute the atmosphere with smoke.

Tlx first, electric train, which suburbia viewed with open-mouthed wonderment from their backyards. was making its trial runs. I) was the first step in the gigantic scheme tor the complete electrification i f all the Sydney suburban lines, to be aecomolislied gradually within the next ten or twelve vears. I here is not to he* an\ sudden transition from steam to electricity. At present only a lew cars have been fitted with motors. As. the plant becomes available, the number of electric trains will lie gradually increased, until the steam lornnu.lives have been entirely dispensed with, and are a thing only of a noisy memory. Aldbourne. it may lie added, led the way in electrification.