AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20289, 23 December 1927, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

A GbLD-BEARING LODE. DISCOVERY NEAR BOMBALA. (Prcs» Association—By Telegraph—Copyngnt ) SYDNEY, December 22. Two prospectors recently discovered a gold-bearing lode near Bombala, on the south coast. A sample of the ore taken yielded 40oz to the ton. NEW BUILDINGS IN SYDNEY. FIGURES FOR PAST YEAR. SYDNEY, December 22. During 1927, in the city and suburbs, 10,885 buildings were erected at a cost of £14,287,000, an increase in value of over £1,000,000 compared with the previous year. The average per building was £1307, an increase of per cent, since 1914, when the cost was £642. IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE. ATTEMPTED MURDER OF ITALIANS. PERTH, December 22. George Hearn was sentenced to Imprisonment for life, with hard labour, in connection with the explosion of gelignite at Morawa. An explosion, which was believed to be a deliberate attempt at the murder of a number of Italians, occurrred at Morawa, on the northern railway line, 175 miles north of Northam, on October 28. Five Italians out of 14 were seriously injured. The Italians were in a shelter shed at the Morawa railway station. The explosive was placed either underneath the shed or thrown through the window. Railway property was considerably damaged. Only prompt action by the citizens prevented the injured men from being burnt to death. SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. THE OUTLOOK VERY BRIGHT. CANBERRA, December 22. The Minister of Trade and Customs (Mr Pratten), in an interview, said it was estimated that employment would be provided for 10,000 people in industries to be established ■ in Australia in 1928 by British and American manufacturers. Tlie outlook for the Australian secondary industries during the coming year, he said, was very bright, but he added that he would like to temper his optimism with reference to the economic position, for consideration had to be given to the possible reaction against the lavish expenditure in recent years. The firms which were to start represented the hosiery, iron, steel, and linoleum industries. SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S COMPLAINT. THE BURDEN OF TAXATION. ADELAIDE, December 22. According to . the committee appointed by the State Government to report on tlie evidence submitted to the Royal Commission on State Disabilities, federation, as far as South Australia is concerned, has proved a failure. The report says that South Australia is unable to meet her liabilities with the imposition of destructive taxation, which is out of all proportion to that levied on other States. As the result of federation the people and industries of South Australia have laboured for many years under a burden of taxation which is materially heavier than that imposed on other States, and unless steps are taken to remedy this condition the contrast between the prosperity in the manufacturing States in the east and the stagnation in the primary producing States in the west must inevitably result in the creation of a spirit of resentment, which might even endanger the federation. RAILWAY CRASH NEAR PERTH. THREE TRAINS WRECKED. PERTH, December 22. (Received Dec. 23, at 0.30 a.m.) A sensational railway collision on the main Perth-Fremantle line, six miles from Perth, resulted in the derailment of 30 fully-laden trucks and the death of a large number of stock. The train, when approaching Swanbourne, was crashed into by another train. Just as the debris vras being dragged clear of the line another train crashed into the wreckage. All the engines remained on the metals, but th e trucks of all except the third train were telescoped. The force of the impact was so severe, that the sides of the trucks were burst and droves of sheep and pigs -were released, many of which were mowed down by the third train. It was many hours before normal traffic was re sumed.