AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1927, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

NEWSPAPER TAIv. SYDNEY. February 10. in tiie New South Wales Assembly, replying to a question, the 1 lemiei, Air Lang, said that he would get tha newspaper tax by some other means it the process embodied in the Newspaper Taxation Act was vetoed by the High Court. it is stated that Air Lang would in that case introduce a tax on advertisements.

HEAVY CYCLONIC DAMAGE. BRISBANE, Feb. 11. The estiniated damage at Cairns caused by the cyclone amounts to £250,000. About a quarter of the buildings in the city are affected, and in the country within a radius of six miles, it is estimated between forty and fifty per cent of the buildings were damaged. In the city, the Roman Catholic Cathedral, St. Monica, was demolished.

A FINANCIAL DISPUTE. MELBOURNE, Feb. 11. Tiie Commonwealth Government has decided to appoint a commission to enquire to the effect upon the States of tiie .abolition of tiie per capita paxliionts and other Commonwealth fiiiancial proposals. Air Bruce announcing the appointment said at present the States resolutely refused to accept the figures which the Comiiiomvdalth submitted and the Commonwealth equally firmly objected to the figures put forward by tiie States. Thus an impasse was reached, and unless something was done to remove it there was no alternative but for the Commonwealth to proceed with 111 0 proposals they had placed before Parliament on a basis of the figures already submitted in order to avoid this commission. which was impartial, and contained an equal number of State 'and Commonwealth representatives, had been appointed.

BUSH FIRES. ( MELBOURNE. February 11. A hush fire which broke out nt the Kangaroo Grounds in the Dandeiiolig Ranges swept tiie whole A\ attic Country. embracing Warrandyte. Hie kedcrai timber mills, eighteen miles from Warburtoii. were destroyed. Eveiy available man in the district is engaged in fighting the fire, which is now advancing on a village north of Croydon, at the" foot of Alount Dandcnong.

TOWNS IN DANGER. MELBOURNE. February 11. Bush fires are now reported at Radius AT.ar.sli, and tiie fear is expressed that the flames may reach Grampins where tiie country is heavily wooded. Forty men have been sent from tiie naval base at Crib Point to fight tiie flames at Redhill. where the railway station is surrounded. The largest grass fires for years are reported from Smibtiry, and they are still spreading. Several homes are threatened. Tiie fire is raging fiercely towards Queenstown. Urgent messages to tiie Heidelluu'v fire brigade stated that it help were not forthcoming immediately tiie town would bo wiped but. BUSH FIRES. AIELBOURNE, Feb. 12. The bush fires are increasing in Victoria. In tiie Cniiipcrdon district a farmer. L. Speed, with two sons aged two and four, wore burned to death. The tire advanced on a front of several miles in tiie bracken fern. Unfortunately they had no avenue of escape. Several homes were destroyed. Afolliournc is practically encircled by flames. Tiie fire burned to within one hundred yards of Queenstown, which is now regarded -as safe. Hundreds of sheep and cattle perished. VISITING GOVERNOR. SYDNEY, Feb. 12. Sir Thomas Bridges, Governor of South Australia, accompanied by Lady Bridges, left for New Zealand today.