AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1929, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

TARANAKI OIL SHARES. (Australian Press Association) (United Service.) (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, February H. At to-day’s closing sale, Blenheim oil shares were at 37s Hd. The published statement that oil flowed at the rate of four thousand gallons an hour tor only a minute and a-hal'f caused a surprise here. The market accordingly was depressed. A parcel ol Taranaki shares sold at 4s. THE HAWKESBUBY FALLING. SYDNEY Feb. 13. The flood, position in the Hawkesbury Valley is improving. The'Hawkesbury River lias fallen six feet- but a vast area is still submerged. .STEAMER BEACHED: MELBOURNE, Feb. 13. The well-known coastal steamer Casino struck a submerged object off AVarrnambool last night, and ripped a hole in her plates. The vessel was beached in the nick of time. There is twelve feet of water in the holds. The fires were extinguished. No passengers were aboard.

TAS ALANIA’S TRANSPORT PROBLEM. HOBART, Feb. 13.A special committee consisting of Federal and State officials, who investigated Tasmania’s- transport systems, finds there is great waste overlapping, and recommends the co-or-dination of rail and motor transportation, the creation of a transport authority, and a Federal marine authority for the control of ports and harbours. It recommends a subsidy for some shipping company for the maintenance of proper communications with the rest of Australia. THE CAPITAL PROBLEM. CANBERRA’S BURDEN. (Received this day at 8 a.m.)

SYDNEY, February 14. The newspaper ‘.‘Sun” in a leader says: “Australia lias already spent eight and a-half millions on the Federal capital. 'lt has now come to a full-stop. We have come to a point where the people of Australia might well ask searching questions. Are we going on with Canberra, or are ve going to pull it back?' Canberra as if stands to-day could be pulled back. The true alternative seems to be we should go oil rather than slumber oil the job.” PRISONERS’ ESCAPE. SYDNEY, Feb. 14. Two prisoners, Patrick Duncan am Walter .Tones, who were being brought to Sydney ,in charge of a constable, escaped at the Central Railway Station. The men who were handcuffed, tripped the constable, .slipped the handcart's and dashed away in opposite directions.