AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] MAKUK A B UFFETED. SYDNEY, May 15. _ The Makura arrived in the forenoon, after ji rough passage. She encountered exceptionally heavy seas. COOLGARDIE MURDER SENSATION PERTH, May 16. Tho only development in connection with the murder of the detectives is the suicide of an ex-detective named Koteveld, whose body was found in shed at Kalgoorlie Oval with bis throat cut. Deceased was formerly a member ol tlie gold stealing detoctiic force, and was closely associated with the two dead officers. The supposition is that the fate of his two former friends unhinged Koetvcld's mind.

THURSDAY ISLAND, May 17. Passed :—Steamer Montague, bound for Dunedin to Manilla.

FEDERAL FINANCES. MELBOURNE, -May 17. The Treasury in reply to recent criticism that the Commonwealth is raising revenues far in excess of actual needs, issued a statement to members of the Federal Parliament. It contends that the criticism is due to the failure to appreciate the increase in tho unavoidable expenditure of the Commonwealth and to the prominence given the increased yield of customs and excise duties. The statement says the Commonwealth in the past three years paid £1,750,000 to the States for roads and proposed now to give two million yearly for tho next decade. National insurance is placed at a quarter of a million for the first year. The annual, cost to the. Commonwealth under tho migration agreements entered into wit'll Britain is £3OO,OfX) and railway construction £130,000. The chief increases in expenditure since 1918-19 arose out of the war. Increases

in interest is explained by recalling the fact that a loan of forty million was raised just prior to the end of the war. Other loans were twenty-five million twice and ten million, together with interest hearing gratuity bond’s, amounting to £21.680,000 and tlie recent conversion of 11 per cent sixtyseven million loan to 51 per cent resulted in an increase of £070,000 in the annual interest charges. One of the most noticeable ienrenses in the expenditure was invalid and old age pensions. Income from customs and excise duties increased from £17,426,000 in 1918-19 to £39,426,000 in the present year. The Treasury adds that it must not be forgotten that Australia has been favoured with a succession ol prosperous seasons and a large volume of exports- These facts taken in conjunction with borrowing overseas by the Commonwealth and State Governments, resulted in greatly increased imports, and a corresponding increase in the Customs revenue. The Treasury concluded that the revenue to-day is considerably less than in 1918-19 and it is evident the Commonwealth fin-

ances at present are not in an easier positions than they were at the end of the war. OBITUARY. SYDNEY, May 17. Obituary -Joseph James Fletcher, a prominent scientist, horn in Auckland 76 years ago. DISABLED STEAMERS. SYDNEY, May 17. The 1 light of the steamer Wongangella, cabled on Saturday, became very serious during tbo week-end. She was in the grip of cyclonic weather, attended by rough seas. 'I he M onganella drifted in a north-easterly direction and shortly before midnight she reported she was only forty miles east of Sandy Capo. The steamer Queda was standing by lint it was doubtful if slie could get a line aboard the Mon-

ganella before daybreak, owing to the tempestuous weather. The tug St. Giles departed from Newcastle on Saturday, but will not reach the scene until to-morrow. The, Wanganella bits seventy-eight souls aboard. She reported at one "this morning that she was drifting rapidly towards the coast. The steamer Kastern Moou was picked up by the tug Landficld, and is being towed to Sydney. DEPUTIES RESUME. SYDNEY, May 17. The latest development of the coal strike is that deputies and shot-firers of the Coalcliff mine, one of the largest on the south coast, after striking at the direction of the union, resigned from the union and resumed their duties. WEEK-END FATALITIES. SYDNEY. May 17. A large number ol accidents during the week-end resulted in eight deaths any many persons being injured. A brother and sister named Stevens, walking on the road at Brighton le Sands, were knocked down by a motor car. The girl was killed and the brother died later.

At Sutherland a car skidded on the wet road and crashed into an electric light pole, six occupants thrown out, being sent to the hospital. At A del on g, a motor lorry taking a team of footballers to Tumbarumba got out of control on a bill, left the road and crashed into a creek. Two men, Ernest Dunn and Eddie Compton, were killed and eight others seriously injured.

As the result of a collision between a car and tram, Doris Kerswell succumbed to injuries. While participating in a hill climbing contest at Manly, A. "V ■ lurnei s car left the road and crashed into a fence. He was killed.