AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16040, 5 October 1915, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

CASUALTY LIST. SEVERAL NEW ZEALANDERS. Sydney, October 4. The 86th list of Australian war casualties shows that seven officers and 27 men, including Private A. Wagstaff, a New Zealander, were killed in action. Thirty men died of wounds, whilst 174 men were wounded, including Corporal L. W. Cozens (second occasion), Privates W. Johnston, J. M. Codyre, and W. Hosie, all of whom are New Zealanders. Private L. Dawe has been sent to hospital in London, and Sergeant L. E. Vernazoni has disembarked at Malta. One officer and 42 men are missing.

NEW METAL EXCHANGE. REPLY TO CRITICISM. Sydney, October 4. The Federal Attorney-General, Mr. W. Hughes, emphatically denies the allegation that metals used for munitions are locked up by the Commonwealth acquisition of supplies. The Government took charge under the instructions of the British Government in order to prevent exploitation and to ensure that the supplies would reach Great Britain. A Sydney cable published yesterday read as follows :—" A prominent director of mining companies declares with knowledge and deliberation that the Imperial and Commonwealth authorities, in holding up all the Australian supplies of wolfram, molybdenite, scheelite, and other alloys used in making munitions of war are playing into the hands of the enemy. Owing to the creation of a new metal SSwK? and .«» fi*in* of Prices, nearly £100,000 worth of metal used for munitions is locked up." TASMANIAN TROOPS. MENINGITIS OUTBREAK. Hobart, October 4. An outbreak of meningitis has occurred at Claremont Camp. Nine cases are reported.