AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3610, 22 May 1923, Page 26

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

BACK-BLOCKS TERRORISED. SYDNEY, May 15. There is much excitement in the Alu.ndooran district over the doings of an afco riginc, Roy Governor, a brother of two noted bushrangers. One of these the police shot dead and the other was hanged after committing serious crimes in 1800. It is reported that he held up a railway linesman at the rifle point and committed a number of robberies, leaving notes stating that he was armed, and would not be taken alive. The inmates cf isolated bush homes are in a state of terror, and flock together at nights for protection. Governor was recently released from gaol after serving a sentence of five years for burglary. May 18. Residents of the Mundooran and Mudgeo districts are receiving threatening notes signed by Roy Governor. The police investigations so far have proved futile. The supposition has been advanced that • smsone is using Governor’s name to cover up numerous petty robberies, or that practical jokers are taking a hand. DR THOMPSON’S CASE. The Full Court granted Dr Thompson leave to appeal to the Privy Council in connection with the recent decision against him. Dr Thompson some, time ago obtained a verdict for £2OOO against the British Medical Association. On the first count, his expulsion from the association, he was awarded £250; on the second, of inducing other doctors not to consult with or professionally recognise him, £750; on the other three counts, involving the publishing of alleged false and malicious statements regarding plaintiff, £350 on each of two, and £303 on the third. A stay in the proceedings was granted, and when the ease went to the Full Court the appeal of the association against the verdict was upheld, and a verdict entered for the defendant association. KILLING OF RACEHORSES. MELBOURNE, May 15. A post mortem held on three horses which died in the Caulfield and Oakleigh districts during the past week showed that they had been maliciously injured, the bowels having been pierced with a sharp instrument. In vestigations have disclosed that during the past 12 months ever 100 horses died mysteriously in these districts. In nearly every case the horse had been placed in a paddock for the night. It is now believed that , the majority were the victims of carefully-concealed foul methods. 1.0.0. F. SYDNEY. May 16. The Grand Sire’s report at the triennial conference of the Grand Lodge of Australasia, I 0.0. F., states that, the membership throughout, the world in 1921 was 2,676,500. At- the beginning of 1823 the Australasian membership was 51,738. The report characterised the increase in the Australian membership as unsatisfactory compared with New Zealand, where excellent. organisation had resulted in an increase of 3164 members. The Dominion was now the second largest jurisdiction. Australia was also becoming active. The report said that a patriarchal branch of the order and grand encampments would probably be instituted in New Zealand and Victoria inside a year. May If. Mr Carl Glasgow, who is prominent in bowling and Friendly Society circles in Sydney, has been elected Grand Sire of the “ icuellows of Australasia. CENTENARY OF FRESBYTERTANISM. SYDNEY, May 16. The Rev. A. Thain Anderson, tho new Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly, in his inaugural address, dealt with the Church’s rosponsibilty in countering the spirit of modern unrest. The New Zealand delegation, including the Moderator (the Rev. W. J. Contrie)

has arrived to jiarticipaie in the Church's Centenary celebrations. The members ot Hie delegation received a hearty welcome. May It. The Presbyterian Assembly decided to celebrate tile centenary of the Kev. John Dunmore Lang by commemorative services and the publication .of his rife. SYDNEY’S GROWTH. SYDNEY, May 18. _ The demolition and reconstruction ot old buildings and the erection of skyscrapers in the city are proceeding apace. Some scores of large buildings are altering the character of the streets, changing the business section, and transforming them into narrow, sunless ways between high buildings. The congestion of foot traffic is steadily growing more marked. The need for better outlets in the shape of the harbour bridge and improved suburban railway facilities is more pressing. A SPECTAULAR BLAZE. SYDNEY, May 19. File broke out just betore midnight in Langdou and Langdon’s timber yams, at Roselle Bay. Trie mill was destroyed. It was a three-storeyed wooden and iron striae- ■ tlire, and contained the most valuable i plant in Australia. The damage is esti- j mated at £100,060. By dogged figuring the firemen kept the flames from crossing the storm-water canal to the joinery mill, which contained timber and machinery valued at many thousands of pounds. From a spectacular standpoint Sydney has seen nothing more striking, excepting the Sugar Company’s fire in 1918. The surrounding neighbourhoods were illuminated almost like day. HICKSON MISSION IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, May 13 The Hickson Mission opened in .* Andrew’s Cathedral, which was crowded with sufferers, but no cures were reported. Crowds all day watch the arrival and departure of patients for Mr Hickson's mission at the Cathedral, which is under strong police control. Many pathetic scenes and numbers of cures are reported. GENERAL ITEMS. Sir J. Joynton Smith (founder of Smith’s Weekly) lias issued a writ for £25,000 against the Daily Mail for alleged libel. ihe General Conference of the Methodist Church of Australia has opened in Adelaide. The Rev. E. H. Sudgen was elected president. A statistical return shows that the population of the Brisbane metropolitan district at the end of last year was 230,000. A fire at Corbett’s buildings in Sydney, which were occupied by several firms, caused damage estimated at £IO,OOO. The High Court dismissed a petition against the election of Mr Harold Nelson as representative for the Northern Territory in the Federal Parliament. The Marine Court has concluded its inquiry into tho loss of the iron Prince. It ordered the suspension of the masters certificate held by trie second officer (Mr Darley) for 12 months from April 18, but a proviso was added that he was entitled forthwith to receive a first mate's certificate. The Sydney Zoo has lost- its big show elephant. Jumbo developed vicious habits, and became practically unmanageable—a menace both to his keepers and the public. He was sentenced to be shot, and one rifie bullet sufficed to end his career. At the Australian conference of butter and cheese managers Mr M. O’Callaghan, the Commonwealth dairy expert, said that Australian butter was the best butter. It was better than New Zealand’s best, but it did not bring such prices as the New Zealand article, because the New Zealand butter was of such uniformity. The North Coast steamer Burringbar crashed into the vehicle ferry in Sydney Harbour during the busy period. The ferry sank in a few minutes, with the horses and vehicles. The latter included several motor cars. The passengers and crew were rescued just before the ferry plunged to the bottom. Five horses were drowned. Great crowds witnessed the annual Sydney University commemoration procession. Despite their expurgated song book, the students succeeded in making the proceed ings very lively. The skits on jiublic events accentuated the drift that has been noticeable in recent years to broader and coarser fun as compared with the finer and sparkling humour of older times. The general comment was that the sparkle was completely lacking to-day. The resumption of land on the North Shore side of the harbour for the big bridge will involve 365 buildings, housing about 3000 people. The value of these properties is £665,060. With the present acute shortage of houses the problem of rehousing those evicted, when the demolition commences in June or July, will prove a diffi cult problem.