NEWS IN BRIEF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 December 1925, Page 7

NEWS IN BRIEF.

RUINOUS. HAILSTORM.

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT SYDNEY, Dee. 11. A remarkable .hailstorm has ruined gardens and stripped the crops in the Ooramba district, on the North Coast. Lumps of ice fell as big as cricket balls. POLITICAL AFFAIRS. SYDNEY, Dec. 11. In the New South Wales Assembly, the Leader of ithe Nationalists, Mr. Bavin, replied to Mr. Lang’s budget speecli, which he said, was unique, inasmuch as it consisted largely of unworthy and shameful personal attacks on men who had given honourable service to the State. N.S.W. COUNTRY PARTY. SYDNEY, Dec. 11. . Mr. Bruxner (has resigned the leadership of the State Country Party and Mr. Buttenshaw has been elected in his stead. AN EXPLANATION WANTED. SYDNEY, Dec. 1.. The Labour caucus discussed the alleged Nationalist plot to bribe certain members of the Labour Party. It decided to call upon the directors of the Labour Daily newspaper, in which the statement was first published, to appear before the caucus on Monday and give a full explanation.

VICTORIAN POLITICS. Received Dec. 11. 12.30 p.m. MELBOURNE. Dec. 11. In 'the Assembly the censure motion was -defeated on a party division. The House carried the second reading of a Bill substantially increasing taxation on individuals and companies. The new measure is expected to increase the revenue by £287,000. LIFE-SAVING SOCIETIES. Reecived Dec. Tl, 12.30 p.m. MELBOURNE. Dec. 11. The Australasian conference of lifesaving societies adopted a motion favouring the formation of an Australasian life-saving governing body, to be known as the Australian and New Zea’and Life-Saving Association. A further motion was passed that it was desirab’e there should be co-operation among all bodies engaged in life-saving ; n Australia! and New Zealand, for the purpose of uniformity in working arrangements. WESTR ALIAN LABOUR. TROUBLES. Received Dec. 11. 12.30 p.m. PERTH, Dec. 11. A further deadlock has been reached in connection with the Karoo’a, the Union refusing to supply a crew except under conditions which the Powers refuse to accent. The Midland Railway strike is causing delay in the transportation of wheat, which is accumulating at sidings. LOAN OVER-SUBSCRIBED. Received Dec. 11. 1.40 P.m. MELBOURNE, Dec. 11. The conversion loan was over-sub-scribed by £500,000. PROPOSALS ABANDONED. HOBART. Dec. 11, Mr Cohen, director of the Ama'gamated Zinc Company, has announced that the company has abandoned its pronosals for developing the paper pulp 'ind newsprint industry in Tasmania. Options for the purchase of timber areas bave been abandoned.