AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1921, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

NEW OBSERVATORY. By Telegraph.— Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, March 31. A committee was formed at a public meeting to raise £5OOO to establish a solar radiation observing station at Riverview. The step taken will link up with the world-wide scheme to have the sun under observation throughout the 24 hours and enable meteorological forecasts tjp be made ten days ahead.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DISLOYAL IRISHMEN. Melbourne, March 31. In connection with the last St. Patrick’s Day procession two men have been fined £lO each for having forcibly seiged the Union Jack, which the authorities insisted should be carried at the head of the procession. A typed document was found in the pocket of one of the defendants headed “Irish Republican Army, Melbourne branch,” signed by three officers who claimed to be ex-members of the Republican Army in Ireland. The document urged Irishmen not to follow the Union Jack, declaring that any attempt to carry the flag would be met by armed resistance. PERTH FLYING DISASTER.

Perth, March 31. At the inquest into the aerial disaster, Pearn, MTntosh’s mechanic, stated that both passengers were under the influence of drink. He saw Loughlin standing up in the cockpit when 200 feet in the air. He believed that M‘lntosh flew low because he was afraid of his passengers. Lilley, Mclntosh’s manager, stated that he .thought MTntosh was interfered with in the second flight. Both passengers were under the influence of drink. They drank a bottle and aslialf of beer in the car before start-ing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE BARQUE ANTIOPE. Sydney, March 31. The crew of the barque Antiope have arrived from Lorenzo Marquez* Five apprentices and two seamen who shipped in New Zealand are amongst the arrivals. They will proceed homeward to-day. Captain Broadbent remained by the vessel pending a settlement of claims.

ATTENDANCE AT SHOW. ( Sydney Marob»3l. The aggregate attendance at the show was 473,400 compared with 451,000 in 1920. The receipts were £31,790 against £27,824. BOOM IN TEXTILE COMPANIES. Melbourne, March 31. New compawies with capital totalling 3J millions Nave ‘been registered for manufacturing textiles and several existing companies are increasing their capital, whilst the number of knitting concerns is rapidly increasing. DEMANDS OF SHEARERS. Sydney, March 31. Shearers are •• an increase from £1 10s to £3 per'hundred, or a minimum of £9 10s weekly. Graziers declare the claims are preposterous and question, in view of the present depressed conditions, whether the industry can stand existing rates. AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE. Sydney, March 31. The Australian Imperial Force officially ceases to exist to-day. BUTTER PRICE FIXING. ( Sydney, March 31. Mr. Dooldy told a butcher deputation that he was unable to promise the abolition of price-fixing. Melbourne, March. 31. A conference of dairy passed a resolution against the control of butter and favored an open market.