AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22137, 15 December 1933, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

BIG FIRE IN PRAHRAN TIMBER YARDS DESTROYED. MELBOURNE, December 14., The timber yards of E. and J. Linary, of Prahran, were razed to the ground by fire. The damage is estimated at about £15,000. Firemen, assisted by hundreds of citizens, fought a hopeless battle for two hours. Six volunteers were injured by falling timbers and iron, and two firemen received electric shocks. LIBEL SUIT SETTLED.' ONE FARTHING DAMAGES. SYDNEY, December 14; (Received .Dec. 14, at 10 p.m.) A libel suit brought by 'Sir Hugh Denison, chairman of Associated Newspapers, Ltd., against Truth and Sportsman, Ltd., to recover £IO,OOO damages was concluded after a long hearing. The jury returned a verdict in favour of plaintiff, assessing the damages at one farthing. The costs were held over. Plaintiff based his action on an article in Truth which by innuendo charged him with abusing his position as chairman of the Royal Empire Society, and alleging that he was responsible for the publication of a series of articles in the Sun and the Daily Telegraph calculated to cause war for the Empire. Plaintiff further contended that Truth had inferred that he had used these two papers for mercenary and dishonest purposes. CARNIVAL FOR SYDNEY. SYDNEY, December 14. (Received Dec. 14, at 11.30 p.m.) A public meeting at Sydney Town Hall to-day decided to promote a fortnight’s carnival in Sydney in November, 1934, coinciding with the centenary celebrations in Melbourne. The two cities are working in the closest harmony to ensure the success of the undertaking. PENSION FOR AVIATOR’S MOTHER. SYDNEY, ■ December 14. (Received Dec. 14, at 11 p.m.) The Federal Cabinet granted a life pension of £lO4 a year to Mrs H. Hinkler, mother of the Australian aviator, Mr Bert Hinkler, who was killed in Italy during a flight to Australia early this year.