AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3618, 3 November 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

QUEENSLAND’S LIQUOR POLL.

BRISBANE, Nov. 2. The latest liquor, poll figures are: Continuance 135,358 * Prohibition 116,279 State management ... 22,349 There are 65,000 votes to be counted. Mr. Tooms, 'State superintendent of the Strength of Empire movement, stated that to poll within 20,000 of carrying Prohibition was equivalent to giving the liquor traders notice to quit.

PRICE OF /WHEAT RAISED.

MELBOURNE, Nov. 2

A conference of Premiers and a representative of the Commonwealth agreed to fix the price of wheat for local consumption at 9s a bushel. This will increase the pride of bread probably by a loaf. MASSES FOB Me SWEENEY, Received 10.5 a.m. SYDNEY, This Day. Requiem masses for MeSweeney were held in the various capitals, FIRE ON A STEAMER. Received 10.5 a.m. Q SYDNEY, This Day. A fire occurred* during the run to Sydney in one of the Mafiuka’s bunkers, but was quickly extinguished with slight damage. RUGBY FOOTBALL. SYDNEY, This Day. ' Mr. Palmer, secretary of the Rugby Union, has announced that the Springboks are playing’ three matches in June, and three xnpre' when returning from New i Zealand. A. Maori team visits Sydney during the' Springboks’ tour of New Zcafcnrd, and a New South Wales team visits New Zealand 'at the end of the season. New Zealand Universities will engage Sydney Varsity in May. A- French team is visiting Sydney in 1922, returning via Africa;

COMMUNISM IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, This Day.' Mr. Garden, secretary of the Labour Council, lias announced a combination of the Socialist Party and the Industrial Workers of .the World,, under the title of the Communist Party, which is aiming at control of Unionism, and will endeavour to overthrow Capitalism. The Socialist Labour Party, disagreeing with the i scheme, expelled Gardenr

THE TIMARU SENSATION. MATTHEWS WANTED BY THE WELLINGTON POLICE. SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. The Wellington police have been "socking 'Matthews for some time for, .apart from his being "wanted w on a charge of escaping from custody, the man was' suspected of having committed an indecent assault upon a little girl, nine years of age, in the vicinity of the Terrace, and also of having ob- . * scenely exposed himself in the same locality, both offences having been committed about the middle of September. Following the second offence, Constable Brown, acting upon, a description furnished by a resident of Kelburn, proceeded up Glencoe Terrace, and there met a mna who tallied with the description. The suspect turned tail and the constable gave chase. When near Talavcra Terrace, the man turned and produced, a revolver, , threatening to shoot if the constable came 'on. Constable Brown continued*’ up the mound 07i which the man was standing, but for some reason the revolver misfired or the trigger was not pulled, for the man again turner! and van/, and succeeded ip eluding the constable. The Wellington police have reason to believe that Matthews, has spent a considerable amount of his time since his escape,, from custody on steamers engaged in the coastal or intercolonial trade.