AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1926, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

ELUSIVE FORTUNE

SYDNEY, June 3

Away back in *1791 there came to Sydney, not, however, of bis own free will, a young man named Robert Hobbs. He had been transported for some, trivial offence. On the completion of his sentence he was awarded a grant of land at historic Pitt Town, where be lived and died. His tombstone stands to-day. Highly respected as he was in the early days of the Hawkesbury, whose history is largely early history of pioneering Australia, bis name, instead of being before the public eye, as it is to-day, would have pissed into oblivion but- for the fact that a rich brother left to him and his legitimate heirs a fortune which is nowgoing begging, for the want of successful claimants, and which now exceeds the bewildering sum 0f'£4,000,COO. ~ , Participating in the scramble toi these millions there are more than 500 in Austral#i. Hi the hunt for the money a resident of one of Sydney’s suburbs, as the emissary of these claimants, has enjoyed two trips to England. As the Hobbs millions still remain something of an unsubstantial dream, they are now giving all the papers over to the Public Trustee to see if he can do anything to bring this El Dorado to them. For many years it has been an elusive quest, but, this land of promise, as it were, is always before them and there is probably something sustaining and encouraging oven in that.

DULL SERMONS. SYDNEY, June 3Considerable public interest has been aroused by a chnrau>?ristie address before the Anglican Synod by Bishop Long, of Bathurst, on the question of sermons as a factor in church worship. What Dr Long says usually carries weight in the community, for he is one of the most distinguished figures in the life of the Anglican Church in Autralia and one of th,? outstanding public speakers. For the present lack of a deep, pulsating enthusiasm for sermons in the church to-day, Dr Long b inclined to blame the occupants net only of the pulpits hut of the pews as well the congregation, in short, as well as the clergy. His attitude is that had listeners tend to create bad preachers, just as a lethargic audience will discourage an actor or dampen and extinguish the oratorical fires, of a- politician. He generously admits, however, that, conversely, had preachers make bad listeners, and in this the community is apt to concur in his oliscfvations. judging from the- Press controversy that followed his speech.

“The present generation,” Tie says frankly, “has no time for rambling, incoherent, long-winded, pretentious sent imentality; but it could, and would appreciate terse, cogent informing addresses which helped men to apply Christian principles at the conditions of present day life, and justify the ways of God to man. AYlitch is precisely the position as the community sees it. If Dr Long’s lesser-cn-dowed brethren would only follow his admirable example as a terse, thoughtful, attractive speaker, sermons would not have the soporific effect that they sonnetinics have to-day. CAREERS FOR BOYS. SYDNEY, June 3. Mr Justly Rawlings, one of the captains of the retail trade of Sydney, and managing director tor the conipanv that has taken over Anthony Horden and Sons’ vast emporium, the largest of its kind in Australia, has been offering in a Press article over his signature, a little counsel to parents who are wondering what they are going to do with their boys when they leave school and go into long trousers. ■ His strong advice to them, and especially to those who are inclined to look down upon it a little snobbishly as something undignified, is not to despise trade as a career for their hopefuls. As otic who has been through the mill, and who is to-day one of Sydney’s leading and most influential citizens, be counsels parents to compare the prospects, the attractions, and the possibilities of anv other sphere of business life with those offered by the retail trade. AVhile all boys who enter the retail trade will not become merchant princes, Mr Rawlings illustrates the prizes that await those who have the attributes of energy, imagination and perseverance.

N.S.W. HOSPITALS. SYDNEY, June 3

That a tax will be levied in New .South Wales for hospital purposes, in view of the financial difficulties which fare nearly every big hospital in the State, seems almost certain. To help the hospitals by means of a State lottery as has been suggested in many quarters would be to embark upon a scheme which would offend a section of the community which is not negligible, and tlie Government is apparently not unmindful of this, much ns such a project would find favour among others. M bile a section of tlie Labour caucus lias been pressing for a State lottery, U’e majority of the Cabinet, it is believed, are against the idea. A special tax of fid a week, to lie paid by employees and to be subsidised by a similar sum from employers, lias been foreshadowed. A hospital tax. while it may not take that precise form, when the Cabinet finally determines the matter. will, it is telt, yield a handsome annual sum without imposing any very great strain on the individual. It Is now fairly clear tliat the system of voluntary contributions, much as it is to be commended, has failed.

Sydney Railway accident. Sydney, June 11. Reports eij the railway accident are most contradictory. The latest give four killed. It is now stated Mrs Bennett is not killed, but only slightly injured. COUNTRY SCHOOLS DISABILITIES SYDNEY, June 3. Aiitiiougli £4,000,003 or more is now spent by the State each year on edns.ition, the appeal to the Minister for Education to press for a special loan of from £2,600,009 to £3,000,000 to remove some of the existing odueationa! disabilities is not wthout justification, judging from recent exposures in the Press of school conditions here nnd there. The fault is not that of tlie present Minister or that of bis predecessor. Both are men of culture, with a broad outlook and a wide sympathy for the needs of the bays and girls who will be tlie men and tlie women of to-morrow. It is the old problem of. a lack of funds.

Tlie case lias lioen cited of a remote country school in which 45 boys and girls lire being taught in a shed erected by their parents. Desks and seats, it is stated, are made of boards, resting on kerosene cases. It has also been stated recently that the only land attached to one of the country high school provided exnctly 11 square inches’per child. .Somebody with a

kink for figures must have worked it out. In a number of cases old gaols which happily had served their purpose, have been converted into schools in New South Wales. It looks as though a few more of them could bo turned to the same beneficent use,