AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY. By Telegraph —Prws Assn.-r-Copyrlght. Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, May 21. The Presbyterian Assembly opened with an important debate on a series of resolutions moved by the Rev. Dr. Harper, asking for a declaration of faith. The resolutions are the outcome of an address delivered by the Rev. John Edwards from the Moderator’s chair last year, in which, allegedly, some articles of faith were attacked, and which caused considerable heartburning among Presbyterians generally. SPLIT OF THEOSOPHISTS. Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, May 21. As the result of a split in the Theosophical Society, steps have been taken to form a new lodge at Sydney, to be called the Blavatsky Lodge. One of the declared, objects of the new body is that all the members shall treat the religious opinions of others with the same respect as each claims for its own. The Press campaign by the contending sections continues in full swing. A CRUISER FOR SALE. Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, May 21. The Defence Department is offering the old cruiser Pysche for sale. ONE THOUSAND DAMAGES. Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, May 21. In the Meagher libel ease, the jury returned a verdict against the defendants and awarded £lOOO damages. [Michael Meagher sued the directors and editor of the National Advocate for £2OOO, for publishing a five column article accusing him of having unfairly designed to secure the majority of shares in the paper for the purpose of depriving his fellow-shareholders of their just rights. The article declared that Mr. Meagher was p\jued because Mr. Storey overlooked him when appointing Mr. Percival, the manager, to the Legislative Council.].

UNEMPLOYED IN SYDNEY. Sydney, May 20. The Lord Mayor has announced that owing to prompt action by the Government the problem of the unemployed has been practically solved. The city council was absorbing a number of men and suburban councils were employing residents in their own districts. Where practicable soldiers were given preference in employment, then married men, and single men last. THEOSOPHICAL SQUABBLE. •Sydney, May 20. The Daily Telegraph opened its columns to the contestants in the theosophical squabble, and is being inundated with blasts and counter-blasts from the contending sections. These include sweeping charges against certain Sydney leaders, which Mrs. Besant advised should be taken to the police, as they were the proper people to deal with such matters. This advice has been resented in some quarters as an allleged attempt to sidestep the trouble. FRUIT GROWERS IN CONFERENCE. Adelaide, May 20. The final session of the inter-State fruit-growers’ conference passed a resolution that fruit-growers be compelled to receive help in the form of a fruit pool if Government control of sugar did not cease and a return made to former conditions. Failing assistance for a pool, growing for canning and jam making must cease. The Queensland delegates opposed the resolution* saying they had been instructed to fight for the maintenance of white men’s conditions in the sugar industry. CHEAPER GAS IN MELBOURNE. Melbourne, May 20. The directors of the Metropolitan Gas Company have reduced the price of gas from 6s 8d to 6s 4d per 1000 cubic feet for lighting,, and from 5s 2d to 4s lOd for power.

A MYSTERIOUS DISEASE. Brisbnn', May 19. Doctors are mystified over the mysterious brain disease from which seven deaths were recorded out of nine affected, and some fear it may be due to the eating of bananas. The Southern Fruitgrowers’ Association is concerned in connection with the latter theory as the rumor has caused a slump in the banana trade. CLEANING SYDNEY. Sydney, May 19. As the result of the “clean-the-city” campaign a number of Chinese restaurants have been closed down as insanitary, and considerable batches of shopkeepers and others fined for various breaches of the sanitary regulations. AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. Adelaide, May 19. 1 National members of the Federal Parliament are sore over the decision of the Liberal Union to oppose Nationalist candidates at the next South Australian Federal elections. The secretary of the Nationalist Party has issued a circular complaining that ‘"the Liberals have decided that supporters of the Hughes Government, having served- their purpose, must, without exception, go. Apparently none are free from blemish, be it morals, booze, idolatry, or any other old thing; but they have no intention of accepting the disTniwli with ehildiike humility.”