AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18758, 11 January 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

TWO DESTRUCTIVE FIIiES. Press Association —By Telegroph —Copyright SYDNEY, January 10. Eire at Atree destroyed six shops and two dwelling houses. ‘ The damage is heavv. BRISBANE, January 10. I ire at Cairns destroyed Bullock’s hardware store, Morton’s Cafe Austral Hall, and the Daily Times newspaper office. Tlie damage is estimated at £17,000. TO DISCUSS IMMIGRATION. SIR GEORGE FULLER’S VISIT. SYDNEY. January 10. Sir George Fuller, speaking at a citizens’ farewell prior to his departure for London, said that his mission was not to borrow money, but to discuss with the Imperial Government the question of an advantageous distribution of the surplus , British population, so as to make not only | the outskirts but the Empire itself safe. | SYDNEY’S CRIMINAL STATISTICS. SYDNEY, January 10. A return issued by the Inspector-Gene- I ral of Police shows that 7888 crimes were j committed in Sydney during the past year, and 5586 were cleared up-. Ihc value of the property stolen was £145,031, i and the value of * that accounted for £145,103. The figures compare favourably with those of the previous years. SEAMEN’S ROSTER SCHEME. COASTAL STEAMER HELD UP. BRISBANE, January 10. The seamen attempted to introduce the roster system on the small coastal steamer Porpoise. They informed the master that he could secure a crew from a list at the Trades Hall. This he refused to do, and the vessel is hung up. FORMER CREWS IN DIFFICULTY. SYDNEY, January 10. (Received Jan. 11, at 1.15 a.m. ) Since they wer e released from prison some of*the members of the crews of the Moeraki and Waikawa have been given board and lodging at the expense of the Seamen’s Union. c Now, it is understood, they have been informed that this will not" be continued any longer. The men’s mimes are to be transferred from the New Zealand to the Australian Union roll. They have been told that they must shift for themselves. FORCING DOWN GOAL. OWNERS CLOSING PITS. SYDNEY, January 10. (Received Jan. 11. at 1.15 a.m. ) With a view to reducing freights and fares, ‘ the Railway Commissioners are seeking to force down the prices of the new coal contracts. A number of coal owners are declining to supply at the reduced prices, and are closing the pits. It is stated thqt 1000 miners will thus be rendered idle. QUEENSLAND’S SUGAR YIELD. BRISBANE, January 10. Queensland’s sugar yield for the season just closed is estimated at 288,000 tons raw sugar. This is the second heaviest total on record. The total of the Australian yield is estimated at 305,000 tons, .which will bo in excess of the annual consumption. ' LAND SETTLEMENT. NEW SOUTH WALES SCHEMES. SYDNEY, January 10. (Received Jan. 10, at 10.10 p.m.' The State Government’s land proposals have been formulated. It is estimated that 34,000,000 acres of good land near railway lines L available, which will accommodate 25,000 more settlers. Two and a-half millions of this land is already open for settlement. It is proposed to resume the balance, after a reasonable period has been allowed to the present owners to voluntarily divide the land, with the help of funds supplied by rural hanks. The alternative :o voluntary surrender will be the higher taxation of large estates or, finally, compulsory resumption. The proposals include a. considerable extensio nof the existing irrigation areas, and the providing of a large number of additional holdings • for prospective settlers. ANTHRAX CASES. SYDNEY, January 10. (Received Jan. 10, at 10.10 p.m.) Three cases of anthrax were reported lately, allegedly as the result of using shaving brushes imported from the East. SENATE ELECTIONS. MKLB MJRNK, January jO. (Received Jan. 10, at 10.10 p.m.)' Mr Barnes (Labour) secured the second Senate seat. BERTH, January 10. Messrs Graham (Labour) and Allen (Nationalist) won the two remaining scuatorships.