AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph —Per Press Association.) SYDNEY, Dec. 9. There were no observations of this morning’s lunar eclipse possible, as the moon was hidden by heavy clouds. VI CTO R 1 AN BYE-ELECT 1 ON. MELBOURNE, Dec. 9. A bve-election for Gippslaml South in tbe Victorian Legislative Assembly resuited in a win for Mr W est (Liberal) against Air Buckley (Labourite). The Victorian Assembly has passed a Bill authorising tTie introduction of the totalisator, deleting the clause prohibiting women operating on the machine. TRIAL OF HIGGS BROS. SYDNFI>>,- i Dec. ’ 9. The case Jor-'tlie'Crown in the charge against the three Higgs v,'Brothers (Manly, Sydney), of- murdering the pastor a list, Leslie on a Blue (Mountain Road was to-day concluded. The Crown case depended upon circumstantial evidence only.

Counsel, in presenting the ease for the defence, argued that from the beginning to tbe end of the ease, there bad been no suggestion of a motive for tbe crime The Higgs Brothers had never heard of Leslie, nor had Leslie heard of them. It was difficult to surmise the whole possible theory which the Crown could put forward to connect these young men with the crime. He submitted that it was a much more reasonable theory that someone had attempted to rob Leslie, who was known to possess a large sum of money. All the facts were compatible with a reasonable theory of innocence, and the ease should be left to the jury.

The Judge, . however, ruled that it was a case fit for the jury’s consideration, and that he would not lie justified in taking the case away from them. CHEAPER POTATOES. SYDNEY, Dec. 9. The end of the strike has released large supplies of new potatoes, so that the market is glutted. Prices fell from Cl 3 per toil to £(> per ton. Then they rose again to CM for the choicer varieties, while for the other classes the prices dropped as low ns £4 per ton.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL. WELLINGTON, Dec. 9

The Governor-General, who is now (onvi descent, will leave Wellington with Her excellency on Tuesday evening next, the l.’lth inst., for a short stay at Pelorous Sound. Their Excellencies will I return to Wellington immediately before ’Ninas. The garden party for which invitations were issued by Their Excellencies for November 22nd. hut which had to he postponed on account of the Governor-Geneial s illness, will now lie held at Government House. Wellington, on Tuesday, the Kith January. Their Excellencies, therefore, ask that the recipients of cards of invitation for the former date will kindly regard them as holding good for 10th January.

NEW YORK SKYSCRAPERS. LONDON, Dec. 9. That New York's boasted sky-scrap-ers will crumble and fall inside of 40 years, is the conviction of Sir Edwin Luytens, the famous liritisli architect, whose works include A\ biteball ( enotapli and many buildings in many countries, and who is one ol the principal architects tor the Imperial War Graves Commission. He doubts whether in the present condition they would withstand the mildest tornado. When he recently opened a big structure, the ironwork was eaten with rust. AVlien lie recently opened the upper part of St. Paul’s he found Wren’s dome bronze chains still brightly polished. Loudon’s ironwork is generally bedded in five inches of solid concrete, and New A ork’s in a coat ol paint. New A’ork’s sky-scrapers will soon be a distinct menace. New Yorlters say they are all right because they have rock foundations. This does not matter. AVestminster Abbey has stood for centuries on a marsh. II a skyscraper was built properly it would also stand for centuries. New York is merely an immense canyon of brick and stone. The windows are windows and nothing more. Americans are not good builders.

AVIRELESS CONTROL. CANBERRA, Dec. 9

In the Federal House of Representatives following oil ail acrimonious debate, the House, by 33 to 19, adopted a clause in the AViroless Agreement Act, approving of an agreement between the Commonwealth and the Amalgamated Wireless. The Rill was then finally passed. Air Brennan (Labour) said that, under the clause in question, the Gov-

ernment was going to give away a fresh service to a’ company which had done more than anything else to shatter private enterprise so far as wireless was concerned. He urged the Government to retain control itself. M,r Charlton (Labour Leader) said that wireless is one of the greatest developments of the past half century, and said that this was the time for the Government to take, control.

Air Theodore (Labour) said tliat tlie proposed payment to tlie Amalgamated Wireless Cpy. in return for its illusory patent rights, was entirely out of proportion, because, through the constantly increasing number of license holders, this company in a lew years, would receive almost the sum which it claimed to have paid for the patents, namely, £93,000. because of the potentialities of wireless, the Government should not invest complete control in a private company for four years. “When this agreement terminates,” he said, "it may be too late for the Government to reap the benefits of the great pending wireless developments.” Referring to the question of patent rights, Mr Bruce (Premier) said the members had asked why the Amalgamated Wireless Coy. did not go to Court against those dealers who had infringed its patents. Had such action boon taken, they would have complained, and now they complained that the Company would not prove the validity of its claims.

QUAIFE RETIRING. LONDON, Dec. 9. AY. G. Quaifc, the oldest professional cricketer, is retiring after thirty-five years’ service for Warwickshire. He received £917 steling benefit money. Ho scored 35,836 runs, including sev-enty-one centuries, took 928 wickets, and played in all five tests in Australia in 1901. A TERRIFIC BLIZZARD. IMMENSE HAVOC WROUGHT. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). NEW YORK, Dec. 9. A Chicago messages states more than thirty persons died as a result of a terrific blizzard accompanied by sub-zero temperatures, which gripped practically the entire mid-western States since Tuesday. On the Great Lakes a terrific storm worked havoc among the shipping. Several vessels are ashore and a score are missing, but it is belived they have sought shelter. A Winnipeg report states the worst storm of many years swept the prairies and is now spreading to Eastern Canada.

•Six lives were lost in the blizzard at Alberta and at Saskatchewan.

cause of riots. BUDAPEST, Dee. 9. Investigation in the Nagyvarad riots reveal they were provoked by international agitators, many of whom were arrested red handed in British shops, living the Union Jack. They destroyed the flag which they ti ampled in the mud. Tito Government have banned the demonstrations planned throughout the country. LONG DISTANCE ATTEMPT. (Received this day at 9.30 a.mi. LONDON. Dee. 9. Victor and Mrs Bruce commenced an attempt at Montldery in an A.B.C. car assisted by three reserve drivers to cover fifteen thousand miles in ten days. AMATEURISM. CHRISTCHURCH. Dec. 10. Discussion on amateurism and professionalism occupied some time ft the annual conference of delegates to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last evening, but no motion was carried, it being left to tnc New Zealand Council and various centres to take what steps are necessary. ,

TENNIS TEAM. MELBOURNE. Dec. ID. .The Tennis Association has chosen, as the women’s team: .Airs O'Hara AVood. .Aliss Boyd (Victoria) and Ali.sses A. K. Hurst and Bickerton (N.S.AV.) to tour abroad, leaving in March next. They will spend several weeks in South Africa and then proceed to France to participate in the French championships and later in English championships at AVimbledon. thence to U.S.A.

GOVERNOR OF KOREA TOKIO, Dec. 9. General Vamnnushi, ex-Afmister ot AVar, has been appointed Governor of Korea, replacing Viscount Saito, resigned. TRIPLE TRAGEDY. NEW YORK, Dec. 9. A triple tragedy is reported from Lasadena. California. Francis Stevens a lawyer and bank director, started from town in a motor car with his son, aged 13. to visit an elder son of twenty who is a patient in a suburban sanatorium. AYhcn ho arrived he called the son from a game of tennis and shot him dead. He then shot himself dead. Stevens’ wife, arriving at the sanatorium shortly after, found the younger son shot dead in the ear. The motive of the tragedy is unknown. Stevens left a will disposing of his estate valued at £35,000.

ALLEGED PLAGIARISM. PARTS. Dec. 9. Lucien Duplessy. writing in the famous French Literary Review, accuses D’Annunzio of wholesale theft from early works of do Maupassant. He instances cases in which there is exact similarity. He says D’Annunzio’s ‘‘La Siesta’’ is an exact counterpart of Maupassant's “Abandoned.” Similarly “II Martiro” and “At Sen,’’ also “A Piece of String” and D’Annunzio’s “Death of Canada.” Duplessy says the latter is the best example of D’Annunzio's imitation. The plot is identical throughout. D'Annunzio adds nothing. CREDITS FOR SOVIET. LONDON, Doc. 9. The “Financial News” understands negotiations for large Soviet credits broken off as a result of the diplomatic rupture were resumed, and have reached an advanced stage. If declares an agreement is already concluded between a group of London banks and n group of timber importers for financing Soviet’s 192 a timber exports to Britain.

BRITISH COMMENT. LONDON, Dee. 9

The first Minister to comment on Mr Coolidge’s speech was made by Sir Joynson flicks, who, speasing at Twickenham said: ” I do not complain. I adopt his words as mine, as he decided well within his rights to build what lie considered necessary for iho people of Amei'ia, so it is our duty to do what we consider right, without reference to demands, wishes or intententions of other nations of the world. AYe have to realise that Utopia is not yet here.”

GERMAN NAVY. LONDON, Dec. 9

The “ Daily Mail’s ” Berlin correspondent says Germany’s 192 S naval budget includes a credit for £050,000 sterling as a first instalment on a battleship costing four millions. This will he the first of a series replacing the old capital ships of the high seas fleet. The “ Frankfurter Zcitnng ” points out the Versailles Treaty forbids warships exceeding ten thousand tons, and urges Germany to concentrate on small swift cruisers, instead of costly battleships.