AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15801, 26 December 1914, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

STATE SEIZURE OF WHEAT,

FIFTEEN MILLION BUSHELS.

By Telegraph— Association—Copyright.

Sydney, December 24. The Government's proclamation regarding the taking of wheat authorises the seizure of the whole of the State's crop, amounting to 15,000,000 bushels.

The Government states that there •is clear evidence that certain persons are en deavouring to evade the Act. The destinai._n of large quantities of grain is doubtfi'l> and the Slate's seizure is the only elective measure for conserving the wheat for hone requirements.

MENTAL PATIENT'S DELUSIONS. Sydney, December 25.

A further application by Brown, an ex-orchard keeper of St. Ives, for .release from a mental hospital has been refused by th© Judge. Brown, who was acquitted, on a second trial of the murder of PoriceSergeant Hickey in May, 1913, was committed to the mental hospital in April last. The Judge said that the evidence showed that Brown was a true paranoiac and that he suffered from chronic sysi«natised delusions as to persecutions and therefore was of unsound mind. CLAIM FOR £100,000. Sydney, December 24. The owners of the Pelaw Main Colliery Messrs. J. and A. Brown, have istued a writ against the Northern Colliery Employees' Federation, claiming £100,000 damages for loss of trade, demurrage, and detention of vessels, and loss of profits on the sale of coal caused by the miners striking seven months age, and still being out. ' PBICE OF SUGAR. Melbourne, December 25. A deputation of representatives of the Queensland sugar districts has requested that the Price of Goods Board should increase the price of sugar to £23 per ton. It is stated that there was 20,000 tons of sugar in Victoria in September, and a shortage is not feared. LIFE INSURANCE SOCIETY. Melbourne, December 24. At the annual meeting of tue National Mutual Life Association of Australasia, the chairman stated that the total income for the year was £1,473,500. Policies issued totalled £3,575,800, and payments to policy-holders amounted to £591,000. NEW ZEALAND LICENSING POLL. Sydney, December 24. Mr. Marion, the general secretary ol the New South Wales Alliance, whilo admitting that the prohibition vote in New Zealand had receded, claimed that the alliance had possibly achieved the greatest triumph in its history by the return of 51 members to the new Parliament who are pledged to support a reduction in the majority required to carry prohibition and local no-license, DEPARTURE OF THE AURORA. Hobart, December 25. The exploring ship Aurora has left for the Antarctic. CHRISTMAS EVE IN SYDNEY.

Stdnbt, December 25. Christmas Eve was celebrated quietly. Thousands of people thronged the streets last nights \ s