AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 1882, 24 September 1912, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

BT BLEOTBIO TBLEGBAPH —OOPYBIGHT,

PEE PBESS ASSOCIATION

FLOODS FROM THE MURRAY

(Received Sept. 24, 8.45 a.m.) Melbourne, Sept. 24. The Murray ltiver is in high flood between the districts from Cobram to Gumwal. A wide area of country is inundated, and much damage has been done. Some narrow escapee are reported

Melbourne ,Sept. 24. The Murray is two miles wide at Cobram and is still rising.

BUTTER MELTING

Sydney, Sept. 23.

Butter supplies show an increasing decline of 2s, the price now being 116s per cwt.

FIRE IN OIL AND PAINT

STORES

Sydney, September 24. A fire in Groth and Co.'s, oil and paint manufacturers, in George street, last night, scorched the roof of the Empress Picture Theatre, next door. Groth and Co.'s three-st-ovor building was gutted. The damage is; estimated at £40,000.

(Received - Sept. 24, 8.45 a.m.)

Groth and Co. were fully insured. Owing to the great stores of oil and other in&amable material, the fire was ono of the fiercest seen in the city.

During the height of the blaze a number of firemen were cut off from retreat on the roof, a change of wind forcing them into a corner, from where there was a sheer drop of fifty feet. Their position was critical, when another veer of wind enabled them to reach the ladders and escape, having to abandon the hose. ■;■■ The crowds were so dense that several people were slightly injured in tho crush.

(Received Sept. 24, 10.35 a.m.) Sydney, Sept. 24. An employee at the Empress Theatre, next door to the burning building, acting on a happy inspiration, announced to the house when the fire started that the people next door were burning a few shavings, and if the audience wanted to they could go and see it. The theatre was thus cleared without mishap.

(Received Sept. 24, 9.50 a.m.)

NEW HEBRIDES LAND CLAIM Sydney, Sept. 24.

Judge Roseby estimates that at least another year will elapse before the New Hebrides Land Court can ■really get to work on land claims. The delay is due to the large amount of work in connection with amalgamation of the British and French system.

AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

In the boxing amateur championships opening rounds, the results were: Bantam weight, Memillan (Tasmania) beat Gunn (New Zealand) on points. Feather weight, Barr (New Zealand) knocked out Lewis'(Tasmania) in the first round. Light weighty Graham (Victoria) beat Penrose (New Zealand) on points. Welter weight, Withy (New Zealand) beat Newhouse (Victoria) on points. Middle weight, Kane (Victoria) beat Borham (New Zealand) on points. Heavy weight, Coghill (New South. Wales) beat Fitzsimmons (New Zealand) on points.

INCREASING JAPANESE TRADE.

Agents of Japanese shipping are advised that a number of much larger and up-to-date vessels will shortly be added to the Yokohama-Sydney service.

FIRE IN A MINE,

A section of the Pelatvmain colliery lias caught fire, and has been sealed off. The other portions are still working

GALE'S COMET,

Before the Astronomical Society the Government Astronomer exhibited photographs showing the new comet, with two tails separated at an angle of about 45 degrees. The angle appeared to be decreasing.

ACCOUNTANTS IN CONFERENCE.

The annual conference of the Australasian Corporation of Public Accountants has opened. The presidential address largely dealt with the efforts made to raise the status of the profession.

ACCIDENT CLAIMS

Altogether 376 claims were made in connection with the late railway collision. About 150 have been settled, the amounts paid ranging from £10 to £200.

MARINE ENGINEERS' AWARD

Melbourne, September 24

Tho Federal Arbitration Court award for marine engineers fixes the range of pay from £22 per month for chief engineers, £17 10s for second engineers, £15 10s for third engineers, for vessels under 100-horse-power, to £32 for chiefs, £22 for seconds, £18 for thirds, £15 for fourths, and £12 for others for vessels of 450 horse-power or over. Time on duty in port or at sea, or partly in port and partly at sea, to bo eight hours, and when actually in port from 7 o'clock in the morning to 5 o'clock in the evening. This does not apply to chief engineers or vessels having less than three engineers. Overtime pay to be 2s 6d an hour, with 5s for chief engineers. This applies to Sundays and holidays. Engineers are not asked to keep watch, excepting when in an unsafe port or where the stay in port is for less than 24 hours. After nine months' service, chief engineers are entitled to 21, and other engineers to 14 days' leave on full pay. When the vessel is out of commission and the engineers' services are utilised for fitting or any other services, they are to receive full sea pay. The award, tho duration of which is five years, includes the Union S.S. Co. and the Huddart-Parker Co.

The engineers' award applies to sels engaged in inter -State trade. The court is reserving consideration of the question whether the award will be made binding and to what extent on other vessels.