AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1918, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

■.. WK&'-'^rJi r "' rr '" . _ Sydney, (Dec/SS. A bush, fire ia the Hay district, causecfc by lightning, devastated 44 miles o£ ( i country befora-it -was extinguished. WESTKALIAN WHEAT CHOP. Perth, Deo. 23. It is estimated that the wheat har> vest will yield 12,032,568 Bushels, an average of 10.3 bushels per acre. GERMANS AND INFLUENZA. GEfiMS./ Sydney, Dee. 23. A local resident h~as received a private letter from America stating that it is commonly believed that Germans distributed influenza germs. Two Germans, disguised as nuns, were caught in the act Others, dre"ssed in women's clothes, were caught shaving in a train. A supply of germs was fouriu* among their ef-fects.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

FALLING OHP IN MARRIAGES. Melbourne, Dee.. 23. I The Government SlaTisticiaH states that the marriage rate in Australia has j fallen from 8.8 is 1914 to 6.79 ii 1918, j and the birth-rate in the same period ■" from 28.05 to 25/52.—Aus.-N.Z, C»y| Assoc. j 1( SETTLEMENT OP hntPPING DIFEI-1| CULTY, EXPECTED.

Sydney, Dec. 23. The manager of the Union Company denies the statement that the men required the company to indemnify their dependents in the event of an outbreak of influenza on board the vessel, which the company refused. The only direct application from the men was fW full pay in the event of quarantine and ordinary rjay for those contracting the disease, to wTHch"*The company agreed. It is now hoped that a* settlement will be reached to-day.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association.

ATTEMPTED TRAIN ROBBERY*. Sydney, Dec. 23. Shortly after the Forbes mail left, Penthville for Bathurst a masked armed man hoarded the engine and, presenting a revolver, called on the driver to stop. After a violent struggle with the engine crew the man jumped off the train and was found imcoJTMous, and arrested.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE DARWIN MOT CENSORSHIP. Melbourne, Dec. 23. Mr. Pearce explains that the news of the Darwin riot was censored, because the first advices indicated that there had been an armed rising.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.