AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.] CULTURE JUDGED BY BOOKSELLERS. SYDNEY. March 13. Speaking at the annual dinner of the Australian a nil New Zealand Bookseller--’ Convention, Mr Georgo Robertson of the publishing firm of Angus anil Robertson, said the. cultuic of the country town can he judged I>y its hook-sellers. New* Zealand, ho said, hail a givent country trade, and it was unfortunate that New South Wales was lacking in that respect. There were large country towns in this State without a tirst-ilass bookseller.

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES. SYDNEY, ALareli 11

In giving evidence on occupational diseases before the Royal Commission on the safe working, ventilation and lighting of flic coal mines in New South Wales. Dr Alien, of Newcastle, said that for some years lie had had many cases of nystagmus under his cure. It was an occupational disease of the nervous system confined to the workers in coal mines. Anyone who examined the conditions tinder which’ the miners wy.irked could not help com.ing to one conclusion, vi/... that the defective illumination was the sole cause of tlu- diseast-. The oil safety lamp was far behind others in illumination. The naked light was easily the host and in the naked light mines practically no nystagmus existed. The disease was not incurable.

CABLF.S delayed. SYDNEY, Afareh EG The cables to-day are greatly delayed. due to line troubles. A SENSATIONAL CHASE. SYDNEY, Ala re h 14. A sensational (base ol a supposed motor ear thiol ended m Kiehmoml to-day where the suspect, -Lueoiirt. was shot dead. The police have been hot on his track for three days and rn Saturlav morning saw him driving a suspeefe ! stolen car at Lindfield. Vl'.e ; r-l'io fired several revolver shots as he sp-d away and escaped, but it is believed lie was wounded ns there were M.-'id stains along the route lie took. Later in the day the p-)li ■> f.uiroiiuded a bouse at Balgowlali, but lie again escaped by lifting the flooring boards, when the officers rushed the doors, lie theme was traced to an hotel in Richmond. The man fled through the hack "lion the p.fli entered the front. He ignored their calls to surrender and a shot was fired over their heads. A constable thereupon shot- him through the head. The man was .sent to the hospital, hut died shortly after. BORER IN FOREIGN PACKING CASES. MELBOURNE, ATarcli 15. A species of borer, new to Australia. has been discovered in packing eases in which machinery comes from America. The Government entomologist has identified the live insects and grubs as the auger beetle, which is very destructive to forest, fruit and other trees.