AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3590, 2 January 1923, Page 26

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES. SYDNEY, December 26. Bush fires are reported in the Blue Mountains. Many holiday-makers have been compelled to secure their belongings and go elsewhere for safety. On Sunday 103 deg was registered. It was the hottest day for 18 years in December. The holiday-makers faced a thermometer which topped 90deg and a scorching westerly wind and the haze from many bush fires. Bush fires continue in the mountains. Several cottages at Wentworth Falls were destroyed. The whole mountain side appeared to be ablaze last night. ADELAIDE, December 26. Destructive bush fires are reported in the Canowio district over a wide area. Crops and numerous homesteads have been destroyed, an«f thousands of stacks have been burnt. In some cases women and children suffered severely before being rescued from the burning farms. STEEL WORKS CLOSING DOWN. SYDNEY, December 21. Following on the decision of the Full Industrial Court that there shall be no reduction in wages, the steel works at Newcastle are closing down, juve hundred men will be dismissed. December 23. The Employers’ Federation criticised the judgment of the Full Industrial Court in not granting the request of the Broken Hill Proprietary for a reduction in the award rates for the steel working employees. The federation deprecated the suggestion that the leeway in wages be made up from future profits, as it carries an unknown future liability. PAPUAN TERRITORY. SYDNEY. December 23. Judge Murray, Administrator of Papua, who is visiting Sydney, said that very little territory in Papua is now left for exploration. Most of it has already been examined by various expeditions. The popular impression that the ordinary native life was one long orgy of cannibalism and headhunting was quite incorrect. The majority of- the natives never had been cannibals or head-hunters, and anyone would have to go very far afield to find a cannibal or a headhunter. -Some of the tribesmen are, however, still treacherous and hostile. In a recent expedition to liunimaipa Valley, where the natives are still frankly hostile, the native carriers were attacked, and a lucky fall saved the leader’s life, but a policeman marching behind was killed and two others wounded by tomahawks. More shipping facilities were required to enable agricultural development to proceed. Increased prices were again stimulating the rubber industry, and there were prospects of cotton production being undertaken on a fairly large scale. A LABOUR APPEAL. SYDNEY, December 27. The Federal and State Labour leaders have issued a joint appeal to the rank and file of the Labour movement urging a change in the method of appointing the executive to control the movement. It is pointed out that the present method of electing the executive at the annual conference does not inspire confidence in the electorates, and :t is suggested that the electorates make the appointments direct. COLLISION AT SEA. MELBOURNE. December 27. The American barque Muscoota collided with the Norwegian steamer Yarra off Wilson’s Promontory during the height of a gale. Both vessels were seriously damaged. The Yarra arrived at Williamstown leaking badly. The Muscoota, with head gear and forepeak carried away, proceeded on her voyage to Sydney. The vessel is in no immediate danger. MISCELLANEOUS. The Mount Morgan operations resulted in a loss of £25,174. This is due chiefly to tihe reduced value of blister copper. B.A.W.R.A. has decided to post cheques immediately to shareholders respecting the distribution of £6,000,000 to be paid on April 14, 1923. . Owing to a motor car capsizing at South Yarra, Victoria, on the 23rd two young women were killed. The driver and another passenger were seriously injured. The Premier of New South Wales has published a statement showing the proposed salary reductions of New Zealand public servants. and contrasts them __ with the lighter reductions effected in New South George Carpenter, who was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murder of Trooper Henderson, was executed at Hobart Gaol on the 27th ult. An elderly man named Edward Duncombe was shot in his hut at Swansea and the place rifled. Trooper Henderson went out to investigate the affair, as the dead body of another man, Thomas Carpenter was found in the locality, shot in the back of the head. Trooper Henderson was shot after a terrible struggle, when nearing Duncombe’s hut. George Carpenter was subsequently arrested seven miles from the scene of the tragedy, after he had fired several shots from a shotgun at the police.