AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 158, 5 July 1921, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

SYDNEY, June 30. TRAFFIC RULE REVERSED. From July 1 the old order changes in Sydney, aud "Keep to the right" as a traffic regulation becomes obsolete. In order to bring pedestrian and vehicular traffic into uniformity the footpath rule has been reversed. Not' that any such rule will unduly trouble the cheerful Sydneyites; they prefer to jostle and eibow their way through the narrow streets, and push pleasantly but forcibly when confronted with anyone trying to pass in the opposite direction. Long experience of dense crowds in limited areas has developed an additional sense in the Australians, and they exhibit an extraordinary aptitude for crowding without any particular inconvenience or danger, and with an entire lack of inclination to harass the controlling officials. Certainly the public does not suffer from undue official interference.

TWO SHIPPING DISASTERS. The news of the foundering of two coastal vessels, on the same morning, and almost in the same locality, reached Sydney in the midst of the anxiety that is being felt for the overdue Canastota. The Fitzroy, through the shifting of part of her deck cargo, turned turtle in the Wight of the cyclone, and out of the thirty people aboard only four reached land alive, two sailors dying from exhaustion in the breakers. One Norwegian sailor performed a tremendous feat of endurance, and actually swam in the terrific sea twelve miles to shore. After battling from seven in the morning until about eight at night he reached land, and walked some miles to a homestead, appropriately named "Vnlhalla," where he quickly recovered from his almost incredible experience.

The small vessel Our Jack sank from a leak in the midst of the gale, and was smashed to splinters by; the great seas. Four lives were lost, and again the captain perished, dropping off an upturned boat before the rescuing vessel, the Brundah, could steam through the storm and throw lifelines to the survivors.

A GOVERNMENT LOTTERY. Quite the most popular relaxation of the Australian at present is the Queensland Golden Casket, the Government lottery, instituted in the harassed ■Northern State to assist the tottering finances. Ticket-- are somewhere about 6/ each, and the whole of the last lottery was subscribed in twelve days, constituting a record. The big prizes last time all remained in Queensland, but all the other States have -been fortunate, Sydney several times having drawn the second prize of £1000 and the third of £500. All the prizes are reduced considerably by the Government tax, but the winners of the £5000 seem well content with the balance. New South Wales has also started a lottery, the prizes to be in State bonds, .the proceeds in aid of the Northern Rivers' Hospitals, and the public, with their inborn love of a gamble, are readily absorbing the tickets. No longer do the bigger States I point the finger of reproach at Tasmania for harbouring Tatt's —in these days of general stress the earnings from a State lottery, a form of money-raising in which the most conservative citizen is apt to become a cheerful giver, solve by a certain and agreeable method the task of tiding over financial difficulties. As the proceeds are usually devoted to the expenses of hospitals and kindred institutions, the end is held to be ample justification of the means.

ROYAL COMMISSION REVELATIONS

During the last few weeks Australia ha_ had some amazing evidence offered before commissions, royal and ordinary, which are investigating disputed matters through the country. The Cockatoo Commission and Garden Island Enquiry revealed the manifold attractions of a Government billet, such as poker parties during work hours, and private picnics in Government cars and launches. What is known as the Ashford Enquiry proved most astounding of all, though Sydney now appreciates more fully the multifarious occupations of overworked politicians, and the strange, unrecorded wanderings of Government motor cars. The papers arc moved to. humour over "tow-headed enchantresses" and '"Ministerial , joyriders," but the taxpayer, who finances the affair, regards it wrathfully. In one topical sketch the lady says sympathetically: "O, here's a poor fellow died of ex-,po_ure!" "Ah," rejoins the husband, "weather or Koyal Commission?' '

DOWNWARD SLIDE IN PRICES. The long-predicted downward slide In prices has arrived, and bargain 6ales are in progress everywhere. York "Street, the grea4 softgoo'ds area, admits the loss of half-a-million in the past few months, and grimly states that the end is not yet. Five-pound suite, popularised in Melbourne by the member described as the "best-dressed man in the House," are advertised 'by all the tailors, and the warehouses maintain these are made possible by the fact that material, bought Iby'them at 20/ per yard, has been passed on to the manufacturer at 5/. The public, usually the sufferers in a losing deal, are hereby reaping a longoverdue advantage.-

THE LIGUORI CASE. Standing in the dismal rain, laden with coats, furs, and umbrellas, and strictly controlled by the police,'the queue waitins entrance to the Lijruori case huddled under the meagre shelter of the Supreme Court and St. James' Church, awaiting the opening of the doors. ' For some weeks the court official- have been receiving agitated appeals for admission, with requests from town and country for the price of reserved seats! The Supreme Court of New South Wales has been haughtily replying that it is not a theatre, but a place of justice, and as such is free and open to all, but there seems an idea latent in the minds of sensation seekers that money can speak even in the sacred precincts of a courthouse. The queue of bedraggled folk -who waited for hours in the ardourdampening rain this morning surely deserved some excitement for their heroic [determination to mias nothing. .