AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.) _ THE PACIFIC FLIGHT. SYDNEY, Sept. 29. Captain Williams lias departed in continuation of bis Pacific flight. KA LGOORLIE MURDPJKS. PERTH, Sept. 29. The hearing of the appeal of Coulter and TrefFene, which was initiated on September 16th., has commenced. Both prisoners arc asking for a new trial. A HUM AX’S ENGINE TROUBLE. , BRISBANE. September 30. During the second step of his Pacific llight. Shortly after passing Tweed Heads, engine trouble developed and Captain Williams was forced to descend in the open sea near Southport. The sea was rough at the time and the machine received a severe buffeting. The engine was temporarily repaired and the machine was beached. N.Z. POTATOES. SYDNEY, ,Sept. 30. A deputation of local potato growers waited on the .Minister of Agriculture (Afr Dunn) and asked for the prohibition of the importation of New Zealand potatoes. One delegate submitted a sample taken from one hundred bags ol New Zealand potatoes and claimed they were intended for seed, as they were too small for table use. A • second delegate said although a distributor was willing to give the assurance that lie would not .sell New Zealand potatoes for seed, the purchaser could do as he liked with them. The Alinister in reply said his Department did not regard very .seriously the probability of powdery scab spreading, but lie would make inquiries and discuss the matter with experts from tbe new viewpoint. Me would make strong representations to the Federal authorities for the prohibition of potatoes from New Zealand. JOCK EY’S SUSPENSION. SYDNEY, Sept. 30. The Australian .Jockey Club Committee have reduced the riding suspension of three months imposed on Jockey Tooliey for alleged interference, cabled on 30th. August, by one month. He is therefore enabled to participate in the Victorian Racing Club’s Spring Alerting. .MOTOR BUS LOSSES. AIEIiBOURNE, Sept. 30. The loss of fifty thousand sterling during the year ended 30th. .Juno was sustained by Melbourne Aletropolitan Tramway Board ill connection with motor bus services. The total deficit of the Board’s accounts for the year was £242.477. Increases in fares introduced in Alay are expected to increase the annual revenue by £280,000. RAILWAY DISASTER ENQUIRY. SYDNEY, Sept. 30. At the inquest on the Alarulia disaster. the railway traffic inspector confirmed that the draw bolt of one goods truck snapped and the train crew made this good with a tail rope, but this rope broke during the shunting and tbe trucks rushed down an incline. After the first break, they had not boon, able to got the trucks close enough together to connect air pipes for the brakes.