AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22825, 9 March 1936, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

DEATH OF A TAXI DRIVER CHARGE AGAINST STUDENT (United Press Association) (By Electric TeleEraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, March 6. The police have been inquiring for nearly six months into the death of John Smilie (40), a taxi driver, who was found suffering from bullet wounds in the Parramatta road on the night of September 23, and who subsequently died.

It appeared that Smilie had been engaged in the city by a young man to drive to Flemington suburb, but the detectives could not advance any motive for the shooting. Inquiries have lately followed a new line, and the police to-day visited a city warehouse and questioned a young student of chemistry, who was subsequently taken to C. 1.8. headquarters. Later this student, Boyd Sinclair (17), was charged with murdering Smilie. LICENSING OF SEAMEN MELBOURNE, March 7. (Received March 7, at 11.30 a.m.) The High Court of Australia, in a majority judgment, held that the Commonwealth Arbitration Court had jurisdiction to include in the seamen's award a clause prohibiting and penalising strikes or " job control." The court also dismissed an application by a member of the Seamen's Union for an injunction restraining the Commonwealth Attorneygeneral (Mr Menzies) from enforcing the licensing provisions of the Transport Workers Act. TERRIFIC SEAS IN, TASMAN MELBOURNE, March 8. (Received March 8, at 9 p.m.) The Makura encountered terriffic seas on the trip from Wellington to Sydney. One tremendous wave smashed a porthole and did other damage. NEW SOUTH WALES HARDWOOD SYDNEY, March 8. (Received March 8, at 9 p.m.) The Minister for Mines and Forests (Mr Vincent), on his return from New Zealand, said that New South Wales could hope for a constantly increasing market in the Dominion for hardwoods. New Zealand had found that there was no real substitute for New South Wales hardwoods. HEAVY RAIN IN SYDNEY SYDNEY, March 8. (Received March 8, at 9 pm.) Phenomenal rains were experienced over the metropolitan area on Saturday, accompanied by severe but temporary flooding, with appreciable damage to property. The Canterbury Park races and lawn tennis fixtures were postponed. BIG FIRE IN NEWTOWN SYDNEY, March 8. (Received March 8, at 9 p.m.) The big retail store of Sweet Brothers, Ltd., in Newtown was gutted by fire on Saturday afternoon. The damage to stock is estimated at £50,000. Eighty firemen prevented the flames from spreading to other buildings.