AUSTRALIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9200, 10 January 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

(Per Press Association, Copyright.) BIUSffiANE, January .9.

On thy lu-nvul of a steamer at Port Moresby ,lrotn Sydney, with three naturalised Coruuuiis aboard, scut back "to Papua by the Defence Department, returned soldiers refused to allow them to stay and forced them .aboard the SKumyi; io ■ rot-urn'to Sydney. '

SYDNEY, January 9

The Statu funeral of the late Sir Ecimurid Barton was most impressive. Great crowds in the streets paid silent homage tv the dead statesman.

(Received January 10, 12.30 p.m.)

SYDNEY, January 10

'Telegrams from' Sir E. Ross Smith state that repairs to his aeroplane are beiug satisfactorily executed. He will find no-difficulty in flying to Sydney.

The Governor narrowly escaped injury jvhile travelling in a« train near Maiden station, a stone being thrown through the window of his compartment.

BRISBANE, January 10. Mr W. .Bertram has been elected Speaker of the Assembly.

A meeting of unemployed was followed by a march to the Premier's office. The demonstrators were intercepted by the police, who, after a struggle, captured the banner carried by .the unemployed. Later, an interview was arranged with the Premier, and the croud dispersed.

As t-Ke j-asult o£ the shipping hold-up, potatoes are selling at the phenomenal price of £50 a ton.

MELBOURNE, January 10

A fire at .Robinson and Marshall's wool flock mills, South Melbourne, caused damage estimated at £20,000.