AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

SYDNEY WOOL SALES. SYDNEY. March 19

At the wool sides there was good competition all round, pieces being very firm at late rates, with a continued and improving tendency for comebacks and crossbreds. Greasy merino sold to 35id.

FLOODS AT BATHURST. SYDNEY, -March 19

Torrential rain in the Bathurst district flooded the lower part of the city, many business places being damaged.

HIDES MARKET. MELBOURNE. March 19.

The hides market is very brisk lor all classes arid values arc one farthing dealer.

Till: PENRITH HORROR. SYDNEY. .March 18

Regarding the murder of the girl Ada Watson, aged 82 years, at Penrith. for which her father, Alfred Warson. has been arrested, it transpires that Watson, who is a school teacher, has been suffering from depression for a considerable time. He and his daughter were to have l«tt on the morning of the tragedy for a lengthy holidnv.

After tin? tragedy, Watson told bis sou that be had murdered bis daughter because lie was afraid that she would be cast upon the world, owing to bis financial troubles.

When the girl went to the telephone to ring a carter to remove their'furniture, prior to departing on the holiday, Watson struck her on the bead with a Inunmer. Meantime, during his son’s absence to secure a doctor, the father dismissed the school, and presumably he returned to the house and again attacked his daughter. The father and daughter were deeply attached" to each other. Tile girl was battered about the head with a hammer on Wednesday, and died on her removal to the hospital. The fatal injuries were inflicted with an axe.

ALCOHOL FROM STARCH. MWLBOURXK. March 18. The Federal House of Representatives lias passed the Power Alcohol Bill. H restricts the homily to alcohol that is produced from cassava and other .starch-hearing products. Tt was announced that two Queensland distilling companies, with a capital of a million sterling, are about to begin producing power alcohol. The Queensland State Government, is backing their venture to the extent of 25 thousand sterling. SHIPMENT OF BANANAS. SUVA, March It). The Tofna sailed yesterday for Auckland with 21.800 cases of bananas. Y.M.C.A. exempt from tax. MELBOURNE, .March 19. Arising from an appeal by the Young Men's Christian Association against the assessment of the Federal Income Tax Commissioner for tax on monies received, the High Court decided the Association was a religious institution and was therefore exempt from income tax. r.NION SECRETARY ARRESTED. -MELBOURNE, March 19. John O’Neill, formerly secretary of the Victorian branch of the Seamen’s Union has been arrested on a charge of embezzling 2(117, the property of tho Union. A SYDNEY FIRE. SYDNEY, March 19. A fire was discovered at 5.80 this morning at Walders, tent and tarpaulin manufacturers, in Pitt Street, city. The tiro had a. good hold when the brigade arrived. Most of the upper floor was affected while the Metropolitan Business College adjoining also suffered. Tho damage will bo considerable. AY t,MAX KILLED BY SHARK. ADELAIDE. March 19. A shark tragedy occurred at Brighton, when Mrs Primrose AVhite. formerly a swimming instructress, preparatory to giving lessons to a number of children who were assembled at. the end of the pier, went for a swim by herself and was attacked by a shark. Two men went to her rescue in a boat, hut when they reached her she was badly torn about. Her thigh was almost bitten away and she died on her way to the hospital.

MELBOURNE, March 19. Wheat, quiet, 6; oafs, milling 4s, Iced 3s (id; barley, English. 4s -Id, Cape 3s 9d ; potatoes .I'll Ids. £l2 10s, onions £‘lß 10s. REQUEST FOR SERUM. SYDNEV, March 19. The Minister of Public Health declined the Bed Cross application for a supply of Doctor Small Page’s antituberculosis Serum, until official tests by selected .specialists were completed. The Minister adds that in view of the importance attaching to the result of the tests, it is essential there should be no distribution until tile exact value of the treatment is accurately determined. FOSSILS FIND. SYDNEY, .March 19. Fossils found at Wellington Caves also include the bones of a marsupial wolf and those of some, extinct and existing species of the kangaroo tribe. •Scientists describe tlie diprotodou as the largest marsupial known to science, bigger than a full grown rhinoceros, while the pounched lion was not much smaller than the existing lion. Owen describes it as one of the wildest and most destructive of beasts. UNDERGROUND RIVER TREASURE SYDNEY, March 19. Visitors to the Jcnolnn Caves have been in the habit of throwing coins into the underground river iu the hopes of discovering them at the outlet. Attendants have now recovered several years offering from the water. They totalled £427, mostly in coppers and small silver, though there were also ten sovereigns. Ihe money "'as distributed among tho local hospitals.

RUGBY REPORT. SYDNEY. March 19,

The. annual report of the New South Wales Rugby Union to lie presented on Wednesday shows the past year’s expenditure exceeded the income by £33 and there is also an adjustment to lie made with the accounts in connection with the New Zealand team’s expenses of £ll2. which represents the loss on the New Zealanders visit to Sydney and Newcastle.

END OF FAMOUS RACEHORSE. SYDNEY. March 19. Duke Alwyne, at one lime a prominent racehorse, winner oi the - e"castel Cup in which he established a record and also winner of other events over all distances was sold at West Maitland pound for 4s. The old hoist? was found wandering in the streets. Mr Jewell who was the horse s owner in* Ids palmv days arranged to purchase the horse, whieh was destroyed.

BENEFICIAL RAINSSYDNEY. March 19. Excepting parts of the south western areas the whole State has experienced good rains and practically the whole of the wheat belt lias benefitet by liberal