AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1926, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] DEAR BREAD. SYDNEY, July 22.

Bread, which has now gone up to 6-J-d. tlio two-lb. loaf, is dearer to-day than it has been at any time in Sydney in the last 50 years. Approxiamtely 750,000 loaves of bread are required daily to satisfy the hunger of tlio people, in the metropolitan area. Under the new price, our daily bread bill amounts to £19,531 ss, or £1562 19s a day 'more than we were paying last week. In 1914, at the outbreak of the war, with flour at £8 18s 3d a ton, the price of the loaf was 3Jd. At the end of the war it had risen only one penny. If the price of bread in Sydney continues to soar the community will he wondering whether another little war might not help to bring the cost of the loaf down again. The facility with which the master bakers can parade quite a lot of excuses for hitting up the price of bread, is aw-

ing. When asked if this is to be the last increase, they reply that the millers or the Labour Government only can answer that.

ART MUSEUM. SDYNEY, July 29. It is the dream of the art collec- j tors and connoisseurs in the community to possess •in Sydney some day a place like the Louvre, the South Kensington, or others of the great art i museums, in order to show the evolution of the Arts from the dawn of civilisation, and to be 'able to display the triumphs of the old Chinese potter, the bronze work of Japan, the furniture of Chippendale or Sheraton, the ivories of the. Renaissance, and other specimens of the beautiful crafts of the past. The first, steps have been taken towards the consumption of this ideal. Countless rare and beautiful pieces of art are to-dny hidden away in private collections, and in order that they might be brought together, and form, the basis of a great national collection, a campaign lias .started to establish a museum.

NUGGET Ob' GOLD. IN HYDE PARK.. SYNEY. SYDNEY, July 17. A nugget of gold was found in the portion of Ilydo Park, Sydney, between Queen’s square and Parke street, yesterday morning by a navvy, G. F. Sissons, who was working in Jack Cowan’s gang. The nugget fell at Sisson’s feet from a lorry which was passing along the asphalt path. Sisons picked it up nonchalantly, thinking it was a piece of brass; but lie soon decided, on account of. its weight, that it was gold. He was so jileased that he took the afternoon off, and entertained his mates at refreshments.

The nugget was taken by Sissons to Messrs A. W. Dye, Ltd., metallurgists, Elizabeth street. lie was given a cheque by that firm for £3l 9s. The nugget was valued at 78s an ounce, and contains over 90 per cent, of gold. It.weighs about 8.13 oz. The dimensions of the nugget are, roughly, 2jin. bv Sin.

In September, 1922, three gold nuggets were found in tho same portion of Hyde Park, and it is understood, practically in the same position. A nugget was found by a workman on September sth., weighing between 5 and 6 ounces during the excavations for the City Railway, at a depth of about 15ft. It was valued at about £22. On September 12th. two nuggets, weighing 14 and 7 oz. respestively were found in the section. The larger nugget, appeared to have been melted down, and it was conjectured that it was part of the proceeds of a jewellery robbery. Others connected these finds with the roS»- :

days of the old Hyde Park racecourse, which were attended undoubtedly by numerous gold miners.

Legally the nugget should have reverted to the Crown, hut the Crown in the past has allowed the finders to retain the gold. >

N.S.W. PUBLIC SERVANTS. SBYNET, July 22. Finding it a. beastly bore to attend at their offices on Saturday morning, the public servants want the Government to shut up all its offices from Friday afternoon until Monday moraine. If the concession is gi-nnted, it will inevitably cause an outcry, for the closing down of the whole machinery of government from Friday until Monday will naturally be attended by an inconvenience to the public. Perhaps the public servants, will give a guarantee that they will put on a spurt, and do as much in five days as they are now doing in five and a half days. While the shorter week, especially in the case of those doing hard manual work, has been generally accepted as a desirable reform, it- will be difficult to convince the community that the public servants’ labours are of such a strenuous character as to entitle them to two whole days of leisure in seven, especially in view of their security of employment, and the fact that thoj have privileges not enjoyed hv those in private business.