AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20942, 4 February 1930, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE CUSTOMS RECEIPTS. SUBSTANTIAL DROP LAST MONTH. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Teles rape—Copyrlgla. I CANBERRA, February 3. The Customs receipts fell off in every State of the Commonwealth last month. The total of £3,371,000 was more than £250,000 less than in. January of 1929. The collections for the past seven months, however, amounting to £26,486,000, show an increase of £1,879,000 on the similar period of the preceding year. NEW SHEARIN 5 AWARD. OPERATION IN QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, February 3. The new shearing ; ward operates from to-day. The union officials anticipate that work will proceed without a hitch. BEER STRIKE AT GW ALLA. TRADE AT A STANDSTILL. PERTH, February 3. A beer strike is in progress in the State Hotel at Gwalia, where a “ black ” ban has been placed on it owing to a charge of 6d for a lOoz measure. The men demand 12oz. The trade is at a standstill. ; Strikers also refuse to accept the lOoz measure in Leonora. QUEENSLAND RIVERS FALLING. RAILWAY SERVICES RESUMED. BRISBANE, February 3. The Burdekin River having fallen clear of the Inkerman bridge, the train services have been resumed to Townsville. The Charleville to Quilpie line is still interrupted owing to many washouts. In one place water covered the rails for three-quarters of a mile. The coastal rain registrations for the 24 hours ended Saturday morning reached 438 points at Mapleton. The next highest was 336 points at Maleny. Only some scattered light falls occurred in the interior. MONEY FOUND IN BOTTLE, CLAIMED BY A GERMAN. SYD T JY, February 3., (Received Feb. 8, -,t 5.5 p.m.) " Herman Thiel, who has just returned from Germany, claims the £213 which was found by a Boy Scout, in the shape of sovereigns and half-sovereigns in a bottle buried on the shore at Sirius Oove, Mosman, in October last. The treasure 1 was handed to :he police. Thiel says he withdrew the money from the banks in 19"'" and buried it for safety, as be mistrusted the banks. Last year he tried to find the spot,, but sewerage works had disturbed the landmarks. He dug arpund fo’ weeks fruitlessly, and then sailed for Germany. Three weeks later a Boy Scout unearthed the hoard. LIQUOR IN NEW SOUTH WALES. DECREASED CONSUMPTION, SYDNEY, February 3. (Received Feb. 3, at 10 p.m.*) The consumption of alcoholic liquors in New South Wales is falling appreciably owing to the depression and the increased prices. The sale of beer during December was exactly 204,575 gallons less than the corresponding month of 1928. The decrease in the sales of spirits was hardly so pronounced, yet it was substantial enough to cause the liquor trade the iftmost concern.