AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1928, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PARACHUTIST’S LONG DROP i . (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, Sept. 23. Parachutist, Quiiler, made a descent last night into the surf at Manly from a piano flying at a groat height. He was picked up by a surf boat, which later capsized in the breakers. All aboard, however, reached the shore safely.

£IOOO FINE IMPOSED ON WORKERS. ■ MELBOURNE, Sept. 23. T’i-r> W-xterside Workers’ Federation of Australia has been fined the maximum sum of £IOOO for an offence Against the Commonwealth Arbitration Act, in that on September 10th it ordered, encouraged, advised, and incited members to refuse to accept employment on the steamer Karoola. The Magistrate said it was clear from the evidence that John Cadden. an officer of the Federation,, had advised members to refuse work on the Karoola, and they did so. Counsel for the Watersiders’ Federation urged that the penalty should be limited to Mr Cadden, at whom this particular charge was aimed. Since .September 10th,. counsel painted out, a great proportion o-f the Union members had carried on their usual work. Counsel for the Crown replied that it was part of the settled policy or the:- Watersiders’ Federation in defi ance of the law to create and maintain throughout Australia the present state of, affairs.

A stay in proceedings, however, ha c been granted for fourteen days. LABOUR BILL. PASSES FEDERAL HOUSE. CANBERRA, Sept. 23. The Federal House passed the Gov“rrwyient’.s Transport Bill by 29 votes to 1.2 votes, after an all-night sittinr and a bitter debate,.-which lasted nearly, fori-nineteen hours. !

RED RAIN IN SYDNEY, ii:.,;. . SYDNEY* «ept. 23. Strong: winds and dust storms in pinny' patt.s of the ,pf New . South Wales resulted in large-quantities of fine dust being held , iri .suspension in the upper air. A fine, on Friday ••Icbt brought much of the dust down Next, owning buildings, and clothe? were spotted with . a , light redd is* l mud. The State -Aleteorolcigist says though ■ l>at this is jm unusual experience here,, tlie conditions are such that ihere may be,, an early repetition.

..., , SERIOURFHt.E. , SYDNEY, September 24. .A ffire-Gthis,. morniiig in Chancely Chambers,, Phillip .StreTet, was the most sjpectgquiar.. seen, fqr, some time. Flames, were noticed at (the rear by an employee, named Hughes,, pf a garage icoivpying the ground floor, of the fivestor.eys comprising the buildings. When •he Fire Brigade arrived the flames ■vere leaping to a great height, and here appeared littje yhance of saving .the The; ground floor was 'illed with taxicabs and apprehension urevailed for a. while lest the petrol stocks should explode. The cars, which aggregated in value at least £16,000 were run out to safety. The garage serious damage, but the four upper floors were all badly gutted. The fire apparently started in the second floor. A brigade officer expressed the opinion that it had been burning si use Saturday afternoon. The man who gave the alarm said he heard a noise in the upper part of the building and thought it was a tenafnt. He beard sounds again and suspected there might be burglars. He was going to telephone the police when lie observed v red glow, so lie catoed tlie fire station instead. I’U* building was largely occupied by legal firms, likewise the adjoining Selbourse Chambers, which suffered some damage.

YOUN® GIRL OUTRAGED. m •. • • THREE ARRESTS. SYDNEY, September 24. A girl, sixteen years of age, at Pnikes was subjected to terrible treatment. She alleges fo«r young men followed her and dragged her into a loca park, where she was outraged. The girl dragged herself bodily outside the park enclosure, where she was discovered and received assistance. She was taken to the liospifftl.

The police arrested three youths, all of whom have been identified by the victim.

STRIKE INCIDENTS. VOLUNTEER LABOUR ATTACKED. BRISBANE, September 24. There were disorderly scenes at the local wharves during the week-end. Stones were thrown and two volunteer workers were injured. ' About six hundred volunteers have enrolled and tnirteen steamers are being worked. The local Unionists have formed their own strike executive aud have taken the dispute out of the liamds of their officials.