AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

AIALAITA AIA SSA CR E. SUVA, Oct. 27

Particulars of the massacre at Alalaita were received yesterday by the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific. On October -It'll, district officer Bell, acompanicd by cadet officer Lillies and a body of constables was collecting the native tax in the village of Sinarango on the coast of Malaita. Natives of Hill tribes in the interior had assembled in the village. AVhilst examining a tax receipt Bell’s head was struck with the barrel of an old Snider rifle, and he was killed outright. Simultaneously Lillies was attacked by three natives with knives and killed. A gallant but unsuccessful attempt was made by the boat’s crew and constables to protect him by throwing themselves upon him. The Government party wore then attacked by 200 to 300 natives, armed with axes, knives, hows and arrows. It is believed that three assailants were killed and several wounded, who were carried to the hush, but this is not confirmed. Wounded constables who escaped state Bell was warned that he and the party would be killed when at Sinarango. A tax collector with Government forces had arrived at Sinarango and a base was established for a seven-hours’ journey into tho interior. Heavy rains impeded the progress. The district is mountainous and covered with a dense hush. The native tax at Malaita. is os per head annually on males between 16 and of). The native taxhouse was built by natives in the village for the use of Government officials.

CORRUPTION CHAR GES. (Received this day at 9.30 n.m.) BRISBANE. Oct. 27. Tn tho Assembly during a. debate on Chillagoo smelters. Air King made charges of corruption against some members and demanded the appointment of a Royal Commission. lie said grounds existed for the belief that one or more members of the Government was implicated in the robbery fo public funds. The charges referred to the Government pun base of Mimgana mines and operation of Chillagoo smelters and other business transactions and charges against the Premier and perhaps oiw members of the Government of wrongfully using their public positions for the acquirement of private gain.

The Premier challenged anyone to jrove that anything he had done was lishonest and added there was noth .ng to investigate i-” 1 it was the imputation against himself, and he nvited the Opposition to make a listinet charge.

A PAPER MERGER. SYDNEY, Oct. 27

The “Daily Telegraph” announced that negotiations between directors of the “Daily Telegraph” a.nd the “Sun” resulted in a scheme being evolved for tho formation of a new company to take over the “Telegraph” and allied publications. A COSTLY COMMISSION. SYDNEY, Oct. 27. Referring to Piddington’s Royal Commission, Mr Bavin said the taxpayers in Now South Wales had to pay over £SOOO for the purpose of a public inquiry which was quite unnecessary, as it served no public piupose of any importance whatever. Ihe Chairman of the Commission was paid fifty guineas a day for twenty-three .lavs, or a total of £1207 10s sterling and the other Commissioners forty guineas a day each. Other legal lees paid by tho Crown amounted to ovei £2OOO-'

FEDERAL DEBT. CANBERRA, Oct, 27. The annual report of the National Debt Commission tabled in the Honsof Representatives shows the o n payments in redemption of debt* since the inauguration of the Commission four years ago amounted £16,814.000. A FIRE. MELBOURNE, Oct. 27. , v fi r e destroyed the Cone and Kits timber mill .t Berlins. The ,l„,n» S e » estimated at £Io,OOO- __