AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) STUD SHEEP SALES. SYDNEY, duly 5. The opening day of tile annual stud sheep sales which were devoAed to merino rams, reflected the prevailing nervousness regarding the pastoral outlook. Though the quality was quite up to the average. Lidding was stacker and prices lower than at last: year’s opening sale. Top prices wore 790 guineas for a AA’anganella stud ram and 025 for a Mardrk ram. The demand for choice animals from other noted studs was mainly at prices ranging from 150 to 550 guineas.

KIR KM EX INJURED. (Received this dav at 9.00 a.m.) BRISBANE, duly 0. The danger to lireincn through wearing brass helmets was dramatically demonstrated when two firemen were on a balcony fighting an outbreak. The helmet of one accidentally touched a tramway feeder cable and the man received a strong shock and collapsed unconscious. The second fireman suffered a similar shock, through touching his companions eiVithex, and a tfilial mounting a ladder, became a victim owing to iiis helmet accidentally touch* ing the cable. ’I he three were sent to hospital and recovered.

•i AV HI EL ESS BUSINESS. AIELBOURXE. Jni'y 0

Mr Fisk, M a imping Director of Amalgamated Wireless, expresses satlsfaction itt the volume of traffic being handled by the beam service between Australia and England. During the first five weeks after the service opened, approximately . 1)0,000 words were dealt with. In the next five weeks ■OOO,OOO words wore handled and the business is still increasing.

SOLDIERS’ PENS lONS. SYDNEY, duly 0

According t> the annual report of the Repatriation Commission lor the year, the number of pensions in torce was 252,000, involving an annual liability of £7,217,704. A special rate of £8 per fortnight was being paid to 181 blinded soldiers, and 061 tubercular soldiers. Totally and permanently incapacitated men numbered 785.

SIX YEARS' HARD. (Received this day at 11.0 a nr.) SYDNEY, July (i. Joseph "Watcrson, alias Stau'gv. cable don 26th. June, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal on charges of burglary and gaol-breaking. The judge remarked he would probably have to serve many years in gaol owing to his bad record.

STRIKER SHOT. BRISBANE. July 6.

John Hynes, a cane cutter, who v.ent on strike when a dispute at South Johnstone sugar mill, cabled on 2jth May involved cane cutters, was fatally ■shot while engaged picketing with four other men at Wangan, about mid-wav between Inuesfail and South Johnstone. A man was seen on the side of the road, who, when challenged, fired some shots and ran into the bush. Hynes followed him and further shots were fired. His mates found Hynes fatally wounded. His assailant who was evidently a foreigner, escaped in ■the darkness.

As a result of the incident, feeling is running high at Inuesfail. Several noisy demonstrations by strikers occurred and some stone throwing was indulged in. Two strangers seeking work were saved by the police and strike officials from being man-handled hv a crowd.