AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1926, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS.

GOLDFIELDS MURDER.

TREFFENE S EVIDENCE. HE ACCUSES CLARKE. (By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 11 a.m.) PERTH, this day. In the Kalgoorlie murder trial, the accueed, Treffene, in the witness box, gave a denial to most of the statements made by Clarke, who had turned King's evidence.

Treffene declared it was Clarke who cut up and disposed of the bodies. He said Clarke had set out to blow in the sides of the shaft where he deposited the bodies, but when he saw a motor car approaching he turned back.

Accused said he did not tell the police of the accidental shooting when they interviewed him, as he had promised to be loyal to Clarke.—(A. and N.Z.)

NEW AIR FLIGHT. MELBOURNE TO SAMOA. VIA SOUTH SEA ISLANDS. (Received 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. Arrangements have been made for a flight covering 14,000 miles from Melbourne to Samoa and back, via the East Coast of Australia, Thursday Island, New Guinea, Eabaul, Santa Cruz, New Hebrides, New Caledonia and Fiji group. Captain Williams is to be in "charge, accompanied by a mechanic who has been trained as a pilot and wireless operator. The flight is expected to occupy two months, commencing early in September. (A. and N.Z.)

"GET IN!" ONLY GOVERNMENT MONEY. TWO IMPOSTERS FINED. W. MAITLAND (N.S.W.), Aug. 23. Charged with having got Government relief money during the goldfields enginedrivers' strike, when they were not actually in need, two colliery employees were fined £5 each at the West Maitland Police Court to-day.

Albert Rowland, a blacksmith, of the South Greta colliery, received, it was alleged, £4 13/7 relief while owning a house and having £400 in the bank. Leslie Rowland was said to have received £3 while having £750 in the bank. They informed the magistrate that an officer of their lodge advised them to get in, as it was only Government money, and having money in the bank did not matter. Investigations of other cases are likely to be followed by prosecutions. THE MELBOURNE TRAGEDY. SMILING DEAD CHILDREN. SHOT IN THEIR SLEEP. MELBOURNE, August 30. There are particularly pathetic circumstances attached to the tragedy at East Waverley yesterday, when Edward Alcock, a market gardener, aged 40, his

wife, and three children were found dead of bullet wounds.

The woman and children were apparently shot during the night. They were clad in their nipht attire, and the faces of the little ones were set in smiles.

Premeditation is indicated by the fact that all the windows and doors in the house were locked. Alcock's two brothers made the discovery. They were anxion> to know why Edward had not been to see them of late. Finding the house still and locked, they were suspicious that all was not right and forced an entrance, when they encountered the dreadful Right of the whole family lying in death together.

Alcoclc was a fond husband ami father, and it is thought that his mind became unhinsred by financial worries. (A. and N.Z.)