AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1929, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

.MOTOR RACING. (Australian Press Association). (United Service). SYDNEY, Jan. 17. It. Xicliolson (Xi'w Zealand) gained two seconds and a third in the best ol three heats ol' a five miles motorpaced match at Velodrome last night. J. Nagel won the match with seven points in t.he first class professional five mill's scratch race. W. Leatham (Xew Zealand) finished fourth. BROTHER CHARGED WITH .M URDER. .MELBOURNE. Jan. 17. At the inquest on the. death of Jack Pope, cabled on 20th December. n brother Ph(Jip< Was eonuM’.l te'd for trial on a charge of murder. The police stall'd Philip appeared to bo mentally unsound. J rSTIKI AJjr.K IT' )-M IC'.I l)K. .MELBOURNE. Jan. 17. A lii it Ii 11 of justifiable homicide was given by the Coroner at the inquest concerning the death of William Kraesst. cabled on 20th December. Constable Drown by whom the fatal shot was tired was absolved from blame. POTATO EMBARGO. DISPARITY IX PRICES. SYDNEY. January 10. A caliled message is published here containing information from Auclkand to-day that there is a glut of potatoes which are on offer at £8 to £8 10s in the Dominion, while consumers here are paying upwards of (>d per pound retail. The message has aroused unusual interest. The embargo against New Zealand potatoes which has been in existence since February. 1927, enables Tasmanian and Victorian growers to reap exceptionally high prices in Sydney, where consumers are naturally anxious that the embargo should be lifted, even if only temporarily. The Agricultural Department, Sydney, states that the matter is entirely one for the Commonwealth, and adds that if the Xew South Wales potato crop should lie a complete failure owing to the absence of rain, which seems highly likely, prices ol retail potatoes will go still higher. FEDERAL INQUIRY BOARD. MOUNTED CONSTABUK’S EVIDENCE. (Received this day at 12.25. p.m.) ADELAIDE, January 17. .Mounted Constable Murray’s evidence before the Federal Inquiry Board at Alice Springs revealed in addition to the seventeen blacks shot alter the murder of the prospector, Frederick Brooks, 'fourteen others were killed by a police party after an attack on a station owner, William Morton. Murray was emphatic that in each instance shots were fired as a last resold to save the lives of himself and his companions. He told a thrilling story of hand to hand encounters with wild Myalls. Murray core a spear from one of the assailants and plunged it through a native’s chest. In each case an attempt to arrest the unarmed natives single-handed, resulted in a rush and ended with his having to fire to defend himself. Once he was struck by boomerangs and jam sticks. On another occasion two blacks leaped on him with tomahawks. When the firing was over alter one attack, 8 natives were dead.