AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 97, 24 April 1912, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sidney, April 23. Brigadier-General Gordon will succeed the late Major-General Hood ahead of the military forces. A mysterious murder occurred Sydney on April 9. Two brothers, named William and Frederick Parker when proceeding home after a family| reunion, stopped at an hotel, and afterwards fought outside. William knocked Frederick down, severely kicked him, and then ran away. Fred crick arose and went off in the oppo site direction. Soon afterwards William .staggered back to the hotel with gaping wound in the throat, an ! was taken to the hospital. In r;ply to questions by the police he refused to say who cut his throat. He only said that if they arrested his brother they would be taking the wrong man. He died a couple of hours later. >■, Frederick disappeared, but in the afternoon surrendered to the police. His' clothes were bloodstained. He stated that lie was drunk on the previous night, and remembered fighting, but forgot what followed. To-day he was committed for trial on a charge of murdering bis brother.

At the trial of Brown, ex-manager of the Singer Machine Company, who is charged with misappropriation of the company’s funds, accused, in a lengthy statement, traced the company’s operations, saying he built up the company’s Australian business from £50,000 to £200,000 a year. IBs expenses were very heavy, and it was impossible to keep private accounts or free expenses accounts, but a record was kept of everything. His overdraft clearly showed his cash books’ balances. If he had been al lowed to go to New York he coulil have explained everything. He had in no way cheated or defrauded y induced anyone to do so. He declared that MacPherson, the cashier, was absolutely innocent. He had simply carried out his instructions. MacPherson made a statement confirming this, saying he acted only under instructions. Suva. April 23. 'The Governor, addressing the Council of Chiefs to-day, announced th d. future grants of native land, whether to Europeans or natives, woui I he limited to leasehold,