AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1924, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[by TELEGRArn—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CLEVER ROBBERY. AT MELBOURNE RANK. -MELBOURNE. July JO. By a clever ruse, the Canterbury Branch of the Commercial Rank was robbed of CoOO in single and live pound notes. When he arrived in the morning. the manager, Mr Morgan, found that the telephone was out of order, ami a few minutes later a neighbouring shopkeeper told him that lie was

shopkeeper told him ilmt ho was wanted by the Jioad Oflice oil tho shop telephone. When Mr Morgan left to go to the telephone, the teller, Mr \Y. C. Chittnek, entered the bank, but he was eon Iren ted bv an armed mail, who told him not to move, or he would be shot. Tile intruder then snatched the bank revolver from the wall, and ambled a handful ol notes from the drawl'd. Chatiick rushed for another revolver in the mutineer's room, and, as he secured it, the robber closed with him. Chattick fired a shot, but he missed, and the mail replied with two shots, wounding Chattick in the foot and hand. The thief then escaped through the bank door. The robbery had evidently been carefully planned, as the haul; telephone wires were cut, and the manager found he went to the shop, that he was not wanted, a telephone accomplice having apparently rung him to decoy him front the bank, while the other must have obtained an entrance to the bank in the early hours of the morning.

FEDERAL POLITICS. MELBOI'RNE, .July :!1. The House of Representatives car--1 ied the third reading of the Defence Equipment Bill. .Mr Bruce stated the cost of the cruiser proposed to he luiilL in England would he approximately £'2, ‘200,0U0 sterling. Draft agreements for the operation of the now Immigration proposals have hoen received by Mr Bruce. It is promised that Britain will lend the Commonwealth thirty-four million slot ling for land .settlement and development work and the Commonwealth in turn will lend money to the States who administer the expenditure. As the Commonwealth and Britain share the larger part of the inlore.t charges, the States will rcieivc the money tit nominal interest. The Federal Parliament, will dismiss tho proposals before definite action is taken. FIRE DAMAGE. MELBOURNE, duly 31. Damage estimated at £ld.0!!0 sterling was caused by a fire which broke out in a building occupied l>v A. Komiiisky at tho corner of King and Bourke Streets.