AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) ARREST FOR .MURDER. SYDNEY, Dec. 21. Following on the receipt of an anonymous letter, the police to-day arrested William Beaton on a charge of murdering the man Stratton at Laperousc in July, 1913. Stratton’s death caused a sensation, his Ikhlv being found with a bullet wound in the hack a number of hours after death had occurred.

A PRESENTATION. SYDNEY. Dee. 21

A cheque amounting to €3237, embodying the amount subscribed as the testimonial for a former Minister of Lands in the Lang Ministry, Mr Loughlin, who was defeated at the recent elections, was handed to Mr Loughlin.

TOTE BILL DEFEATED. MELBOURNE, Dee. 21

The Legislative Council by 19 to 12 rejected a bill to legalise the totalisator in Victoria.

WATER FRONT WORK. MELBOURNE, Dec

A proposal by Judge 1 ice by to make inquiries regarding the introduction of a scheme of payment by results for work on the waterfront, appears to lie favoured by union officials in .Melbourne. They believe it would eliminate stevedoring companies, which contract with the owners to do the work on a tonnage basis. The Secretary of the Wharf Labourers’ Union said if the system were acceptable to the men, it would probably promote harmony on the waterfront. A union could contract for loading and unloading vessels, and would not be so liable to stoppages arising from disputes over the interpretation of awards and agreements. Other officials said to make piecework successful, the middleman would have to be removed.

N.S.AV. MINERALS. SYDNEY, Dee. 21

The Department of Mines estimates the total value of the New South Wales mineral production for the .rear ending thirty-first December next will be between 19 and UR millions sterling. Last year’s output exceeded twenty millions.

The Under Secretary in a. .statement says the passing of some branches of the metalliferous industry, notably gold and oop[>er, is becoming increasingly evident, but in turn they are being replaced by others, which have developed with the growth of the State. For example the cement industry now contributes an annual output equal to that of the gold mines in boom years. 'fhe estimated output of coal in 1927 will approximate 101 million tons, which in three hundred thousand less than the previous year. The increase in the price of coal, however, will lift the aggregate value of the output to that of the previous year. About 2-1.7)00 miners are engaged in the industry.

It is estimated that the production of silver, lead and zinc from Broken I-fill will exceed fourteen hundred thousands tons, an increase of over a hundred thousand, compared with 1026 when the vdlue was £5,760,000. The low price ruling for copper precluded the profitable working of ores and no new discoveries of gold were made

RACING INNOVATION. SYDNEY. Dee. 21. An innovation was provided in greyhound races when in two events tire dogs were ridden by specially trained monkeys. The first event, was a hurdle and the second a flat race and in both races the monkeys ictailied their mounts. One dog alter a race cleared a six loot gate but the jockcv relused to be .dolled.