AUSTRALIAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7251, 9 August 1907, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

A DESTRUCTIVE STORM. (Received August 9, 9,40 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 9. A storm at Taree did great damage, md a -number of houses suffered severely. A new Presbyterian Church, which Vas near completion was overblown ;uul smashed. REDUCTION AND CONTROL OF HOTELS. The Anglican Synod shelved a. moLion favouring No-License, and carried an amendment approving reduction and control of hotels. SECRECY OP THE BALLOT AT STAKE. BRISBANE , August 9: In the Assembly, Mr Kidston, speaking of the Election Acts Amendment 3iil, said that there might be evidence >f fraud in connection with voting dirougbout the State, but it would be small to what would take place next election, unless the Bill were amended. If the blemish were not removed, it meant that the secrecy of the ballot, in so far as women were concerned, \vould be abolished. It was the duty >f the Government to abolish the postal vote. PATENT- MEDICINES. MELBOURNE, August 9. The report of Mr Beale, commissioned to visit Europe to enquire into patent medicines, has been presented. It contains a number of drastic recommendations, including the compulsory ifgistration of overy proprietary' name, the printing of formulae, and that no advertisement of any proprietary or secret cure be permitted in any icwspaper. journal, book, or pamphret.