AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1929, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

TO BOOST AUSTRALIA

(Received this day at 11.25. a.m.)

SYDNEY, Jan. 25

A movement which has heen instituted by Australian business men to raise a fund of one hundred thousand sterling for boosting Australia overseas with the purpose of attracting tourists, investors'and settlers is nearing finality. An undertaking has already been given for seventy thousand.

COAL INDUSTRY.

SYDNEY, Jan. 25,

The Chairman of the Northern Collieries’ Association to-day appealed to the miners’ representatives earnestly to consider the Government’s, proposals for the stabilisation of the industry, reminding them that an exhaustive investigation of the mining companies’ affairs had alcady been carried out. He solemnly warned the miners that the colliery proprietors were thoroughly united, and were prepared.for any contingency in order to rescue the industry from the desperate pass into which it had drifted. TIMBER WORKERS. MELBOURNE, January 25. A conference of the parties in the timber dispute called yesterday, was unable to reach a satisfactory agreement. Since the union’ representatives expressed an intention to disobey the award, working only fortyfour hours a week, the employers’ secretary lias notified them that they intend to compel observance of the award and from January 31, any employee working only forty-tour hours, will have a pro rata reduction made from his wages. BATHER MAULED. BY CROCODILE. SYDNEY, January 25. A Cairns message states that while bathing in the City Swimming Enclosure last night, Wevin Conlon, aged 24, was attacked by a largo crocodile, which bit a large piece of flesh from his back with its claws. He is in a critical condition. The crocodile got him through a hole in the baths. BANKRUPT’S TROUBLES. SYDNEY, January 25. Richard Hymans and his wife Flora arrived in Sydney from New Zealand in 1926, and invested their life’s savings, £3OOO, in Darlinghurst flats. They have lost everything, and they appeared before the Bankruptcy Court to-day. In examination, they tokl the Judge they were victims of misrepresentations, both regarding the respectability of their tenants and the profits from fiats. The Court, having heard their story, released them from jurisdiction. ' Hymans is returning to New Zealand. A HOLD-UP. SYDNEY, January 26. An extraordinary incident occurred at Daly’s Tehatre, Leicester Square. In the midst of a performance, a man with a revolver, in evening dress suddenly held up the gallery pay office girl and demanded the money taken that evening. The girl screamed and dropped below the level of the grill to escape an expected shot. The man flee? to a waiting motor car and escaped.