AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(.Australian <fe N.Z. Cable Association.}

SYDNEY FINANCE. SYDNEY, Feb. 3. aTIio estmated deficit of the City Municipal Council for 1926 amounts to £IOO,OOO.

N.S.AW POLITICS. SYDNEY, Feb. 3,

In the Assembly, Mr Baddelev gave notice of intention to introduce the Child Endowment Bill. The Assembly amended the new Liquor Bill to provide that liquor lie served with meals to nine o’clock at night, only on the premises of holders of a. publican’s license. Meals are also defined to mean a meal of at least two courses, persons partaking thereof to be seated at a table. DOUBLE TRAGEDY. SYDNEY, Feb. 3. The police have received advice of a shooting tragedy at the road construction camp near Hill.stone. Two shots •were heard by the occupant, of a tent, who on investigating found two occupants of another tent, Andrew Morris and Henry Davies, shot dead, and a repeating rifle beside the bodies. There are no other details to bland. VESSEL IN DISTRESS. ' SYDNEY, Feb. 3. A wireless message has been received from the destroyer Ynrrn. that an unknown sailing vessel is in distress off Swan Island, Victoria. The yjirra is standing by.

CANNIBALISM. SYDNEY. Feb. 3

A wireless from Bulolo states the expedition investigating the murder of native carriers by Kanakas on the Bulolo river, found evidences of cannibalism on n large scale in the native villages. Apparently the native carriers who were reported as deserters during the last twelve months were murdered and eaten. The expedition encountered severe opposition, was several times ambushed and was compelled to fire in self defence wounding a number of. Kanakas. BUSH ERE. MELBOURNE, Feb. 3. A disastrous bush fire is raging on a twenty mile front near Chiltern. dniSiug enormous damage. Four people were severely burned and two are missing. The fired fanned by a cyclonic gale, reached within two miles of Beechwarth. The township of Cockatoo is also menaced. Appeals for volunteers have been sent to the neighbouring towns. Fires /are also raging near Noogee. storm damage. MELBOURNE, Feb. 3. A violent wind storm swept Melbourne suburbs, disorganised telephone and telegraph services, and caused heavy damage. During the height of the gale a rocket was seen at sola off Queensdiffe. A lifeboat put out but so far has not returned. BUILDING TRADE STOPPAGE., BRISBANE, Feb. 3. The application of the master builders for cancellation of the building tij-ides award and deregistration of the striking unions, was heard bv the Board of Trade. Xo decision was given on the application, but the unions representatives agreed .to call a mass meeting to consider 'a suggestion by the President of the Board of Trade that a ballot should ho taken on the question of continuing the strike or returning the work.