AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15056, 27 July 1912, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.--Press Association.—Copyright

A DARING ROBBERY. (Received July 27, 12.55 a.m.)

i Syjwey, July 26. A daihno robbery occurred in the city. An. employe© of a local company was returning from a bank with a bag containing £36 for wages, when two men hustled him into a doorway, snatched up the bag, and escaped.

STEAM SERVICE TO HULL. .

(Received July 27, 12.55 a.m.) "/.. V Si'DNK'i, July 26.

A proposal is afoot to establish a direct steamship service to ; Hull. ; Probably the Victorian and Queensland Governments will bo asked to join New South Wales in subsidising the service.

A.M.P. PROVIDENT FUND. (Received July 25, 10.55 p.m.) ;; " Syunet, July. 26.' A special meeting of the Australian Mutual Provident Society has adopted a proposal to contribute out of the funds £2500 annually to the officers' provident fund. ..■ ■ ■■:,■■;.•■:.■

DEATH OS" AN AMERICAN VISITOR. (Received July 27. 12.55 a.m.) . Melboi'link, July 26. Mr. W. A. Richards, ex-Governor of the State of Wyoming, U.S.A., who iscetitly arrived with American land-see leers, died suddenly to-day of angina •pectoris. - :

A VESSEL'S BACK BROKEN. (Received July \6, 8.50 p.m.) v Stdnbt, July 26.

Of the coastal steamers which drifted ashore at Ulladulla, the Belbourie has been refloated, but the Seagull's back is broken. ■.- ' " ' ' -, ; ,

WHARF LABOURERS' DISPUTE.

(Received- July 26, 8.50 p.m.)

Sydney, July 26.

After a conference between counsel the charges of striking against 34 of the North Coast Company's wharf- labourers have been withdrawn. Three other 'charges were dismissed on -■ the * ground that ■ the men were not aware that the strike ■; was called till they arrived at the. wharf.' The other cases are unfinished.'

AMERICAN MEAT TRUST. « Sydney, July 26.

■ A witness before, the Royal Commission on. tho Food Supply, representing the Meat Employees' Union, declared that the American Beef Trust was operating in New South Wales. The high price of meat was due to the combine. _«■' - '••'..■"■ '" - : L'-'y. OARGO-PIH,AaiNG IN SYDNEY. Sydney,; July 26. j Cargo broaching is rampant in Sydney. A wharf labourer was to-day fined £20, or four months* hard labour, for pillaging goods from a vessel. Evidence was given of the magnitude- of the evil, the agents; of the vessel stating 'that sincs June l they had lost £172 worth of goods from three steamers. ''' '. ' •/■ * '

SHORTAGE OP PACTOSY LABOUR.

Sydney, July 26.

Tho official report shows that at the end of last year there were 3843 factories, employing 77,505 hands, in the metropolitan area, an. increase in factories of 173, and in hands of 6420, the largest yearly increase since the Factories Act came into force in 1897. The ''report adds that in almost every direction orders are being turned away on account of the shortage of labour. Many machines were standing 'idle, though good wages were offered.

SYDNEY'S "TUBE" SCHEME.

Sydney, July 26.

A proposal is mooted that the New South Wales Government should pur'chase the Queen Victoria Markets and utilise them as an underground railway station. Mr. Hay, the English expert, considers the site an ideal one. These markets have involved the City Council in a loss, of £170,000 in 20 years.

NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS.

Sydney, July 26.

In the House of Assembly yesterday the Treasurer introduced a three months'; Supply Bill, totalling over £5,000,000,' and providing, amongst other items,, ex-! penses of Government brick, lime,; and blue metal works.

GILDED SIXPENCES. Sydney, July 26. ■;! The police have unearthed a plant used for gilding sixpences.

BUTTER FROM A WRECK.

Sydney, July 26.

Lumps of butter have been washed ashore at Eden, apparently from the same source as those recently found at Tathra. They have come from a southerly direction. '■'.' .

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S BIRTHDAY. Melbourne, July 26. The Melbourne Stock Exchange lias forwarded £25 towards»lhe birthday presentation to Mr. Joseph Chamberlain.