AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

IiATN IN QUEENSLAND. MELBOURNE, Sept. 27. The Commonwealth Weather Bureau lias received advice that the long drought over a. great section of the district has been broken by heavy rains, which are still falling. TOTE RULE ALTERED. (Received this day at 9.?0 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 28. The Government have decided to repeal the totalisator rule, providing for a return of not less than the unit of investment to backers of placed horses, (cabled on 13th May) as the new system did not prove popular with the betting public. The old system of allocation of fifty per cent for first horse, thirty for second, and twenty for third will ho reverted to.

A FIRE. SYDNEY", Sept. 28. A firo at Gulargambone destroyed Bolger’s store. The damage is estimated at £IO,OOO. CATHEDRAL SITE OFFER, • ' . SYDNEY. Sept. 28. The Diocesan Synod decided by 190 to 97' votes to ratify the agreement between the Government and the Church of England Property Trust providing for the transfer of St. Andrew’s Cnthedrnl to a site in MncQunrie Street which at present is occupied by the Mint. RURAL WAGE RESULT. SYDNEY, Sept. 28.

Reports fronj the country state many rural employees are losing their jobs owing to the declaration of the £4 4s rural wage. AERIAL SURVEY. MELBOURNE, Sept. 28. Two supermarine Seagull amphibian planes have started on route to New Guinea to make an aerial survey of the. coastline of Papua and adjoining islands. WOOL SALES. BRISBANE, Sept. 28. At the opening wool sale of the season, tho ndvnnee in prices established at the Sydney sales was fully sustained. The demand was keen and tone firm. A large proportion of the offerihg were thinly-grown, dusty and tender, showing the effects of the drought.

GOOD RAINS. . MELBOURNE, Sept. 23. Good rains are now falling in the central and western districts, and portions of the drought area have benefitted. FEDERAL POLITICS. CANBERRA, Sept. 27. There wns a pre-sessional meeting of the Nationalist and Country Parties of the -Federal Parliament. Dr Earle Page (Treasurer) announced that lie would deliver the Budget when the Federal Parliament met to-morrow. He V added that lie' would announce a reduction in taxation in conformity with the wishes of members of both parties, and that the Government would immediately proceed with a Federal housing scheme, and that a national insurance scheme would be announced tuts session.

A SYDNEY FAIR. SYDNEY, Sept. 27. The Royal Agricultural Society’s inaugural spring fair opened to-day. The principal features were the exhibits of horses, fruit, and women’s industries, with jumping and woodchopping contests. The spring fair will be held annually. N.Z, RIFLEMEN ARRIVE. SYDNEY, Sept, 27. Twelve of the twenty members of the New Zealand Rifle Team, who are competing for the King’s Przie, were passengers to arrive by the Ulimaroa. today. They will he given a civic reception by the Lord Mayor in the Town Hall to-morrow,