AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 49, 22 February 1912, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

fßy Electric Telegraph.—Copyright (United Press Association.) Sydney, February 21. ' The State Government informed the Minister of Defence that it is prepared to build a cruiser and three destroyers. The retrial of Dr. Peacock on the charge of murdering the girl Man Davies has commenced. After the Speaker declared the censure debate had lapsed, the House proceeded to business, and appointed a select committee to inquire into the operations of the Australian Jocke? Club and its relations to horse rac iag in New South Wales. A representative gathering in the Town Hall presented Sir Henniker Heaton with an illuminated address signed by the, Governor-General and the postmasters of the various States and ,a silver, inkstand, the frame of which is inlaid with stamps of the Empire, in recognition of his services to penny postage. While a hirge tug was lying at the wharf, the crew being absent, a man wont aboard and set the engines going. The tug ( careered wildly round the harbour and finally crashed into a wharf. The tug was severely damaged. The. man escaped. ’ . A ballot nf miners in' the Newcastle and Maitland districts voted against compulsory training by a majority of two to one. . In the Assembly the Savings Bank Amalgamation Bill and the State Coal Mines Bill were l introduced at the stage where they were interrupted last session. Melbourne, February 21. Deliycries that he Government Statistician’s estimate' of the wheat crops, at twenty-six and a half .million will ! hot be realised. The crop is jiow estimated at twentytwo millions,,which is thirteen millions bplow the previous year. An official, statement of the operations of the State Brick Works shows that the cost of construction was £IO,OOO, the, working expenses £5700, and the revenue £16,000. The works have been closed pending experiments by , the manager of the New South Wales State works. Mr Griffiths, discussing the failure, declared that his works would not have been a failure if he had obtained an expert from the combine. Brisbane, February 21. There have been heavy rains in the Townsville district and several washaways on the Northern railways. • A drought iiad been feared.