AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 17956, 1 May 1922, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. TUB HOUSE PLAGUE. FARMERS DESPERATE. SYDNEY, May 1. (Received May 1, at 8.55 a.m.) A conference of the Western District’s branches of the Agricultural Bureau resolved to ask the Government, in view of the widespread damage resulting from the mouse plague, to negotiate with the Pasteur Institute to jntioduce virus for the spread of disease among mice. Statements have ' been made showing that mice aro still widely ravaging the whcatticlds; also that the last mouse plague caused the loss of wheat valued at £1,000,000, besides untold Jog? on farms and in homes. CHEESE AND BUTTER INTERESTS. COMBINATION EFFECTED. MELBOURNE, April 29. A conference of butter interests has created a federal body with the object of stabilising the Commonwealth cheese and butter markets. The equalisation of returns to factories on local and inter-State sales is to apply only to the choicest firstgrade butters, and the body to establish a basic price for local consumption. JEWEL THEFT BY BOY. A CURIOUS* SEQUEL. HOBART, May 1. (Received May 1, at 9.20 a.m.) The chance presence of a detective in a jeweller’s .shop led In the restoration of valuable diamonds to their owner. A boy entered the shop, and premied and asked the value of a fine diamond. The jeweller valued it at £BOO. The detective, questioned the boy. who said that he had bought it with two smaller diamonds from another hoy for Is and a- pistol. He. said that lie showed it to several persons, and tried to sell it for a. small sum. Some told him that it was" glass and useless, and others that it was worth £I,OOO. so he took it to the jeweller to ascertain its value. The detective discovered another boy who had a. quantity of valuable jewellery in his possession, from which the jewels were extracted. He confirmed the sale of the jewel, and admitted having taken jewellery from a residence in town. The occupier of the house, was advised of Iho'lad’s confession. He at first denied that ho had lost any jewellery, but later he agitatedly reported that he had lost a brooch and a. ring which contained the jewels which the boy was hawking around.