AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 3885, 28 August 1928, Page 30

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

COAL CONTRACTS INQUIRY. FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD. SYDNEY, August 21. At the coal inquiry Alfred Ivatt, chairman of directors of Byrnes, Ltd., refused to answer questions regarding sums shown in the company’s books as special commission for “ Macafee.”” Arthur Earnshaw, a member of the firm of Kirton and Earnshaw, coal merchants, gave evidence that the firm entered into contracts with the City Council in 1921 to supply coal. He paid money to Richard Woof, a former superintendent of the power house, in connection with two 20,000-ton contracts, and he also paid money through James Johnston, a former manager of Byrnes, Ltd., in connection with council contracts. Johnston had told him that he knew the aidermen, and witness paid 3d a ton in connection with the contract. Later Woof wanted 6d a ton, but agreed to accept 3d if the money was paid in a lump sum of £250. Before the next contract Woof wanted 6d, but accepted 4d, the first £175 to be paid in a lump sum. Henry Gray, secretary of the South Clifton Colliery, said his firm tendered in 1925 for the supply of 60,000 tons of coal. Woof offered his services to supervise the power house tests at 3d a ton. The contract was accepted, and £750 was paid to Woof. k The hearing of evidence was adjourned. SYDNEY, August 21. The negotiations for th e stabilisation of the coal industry, which has been drifting from New South Waleg to foreign and British ports, are now taking definite shape. It is announced that the Western Australian Government has secured a large consignment of coal from Maitland at a price considerably lower than the recent high rates, while Mr Bavin is on the eve of announcing an appreciable reduction in the price of coal to the railways as the result of an amicable arrangement between the coal owners and himself on the one hand, and the men’s representatives on the other. Mr Bruce also took a hand in these negotiations, which are causing the greatest satisfaction.

AN EXPRESSIVE WITNESS. SYDNEY, August 22. Patrick Stokes, a former Mayor, giving evidence at the civic coal commission, gave a categorical denial to the witness Woof’s allegations that Woof paid money to him, or that he went to Holdsworth’s hotel with Woof, or telephoned to Woof to meet him since the commission began. Stokes accompanied his replies with the declaration, “ He’s a liar,” when questioned regarding Woof’s allegations. EVIDENCE BY THE PREMIER. SYDNEY, August 23. Mr Justice Thomson, the Royal Commissioner, appointed to inquire into the matter of coal contracts entered into by the late Sydney City Council, resumed the inquiry to-day. Mr J. Mostyn, a former Lord Mayor, denied that he had ever entered into an agreement with any tenderer for the City Council coal contract. He had never authorised his wife’s name to be inserted in-any agreement. Just before the City Council was dissolved a recommendation was received that 20,000 tons should be purchased from Byrnes, Limited, but he demurred, and referred the matter to the Premier, who advised carrying on with the coal in hand, and leaving the contract to be arranged by the commissioners. .Mr T. R. Bavin (the Premier) gave evidence corroborating Mostyn’s statement.

A FORMER ALDERMAN. SYDNEY, August 24. Before the Coal Commission Mr Holdsworth, a former aiderman, gave evidence that he had never received a penny in connection with his duties as an aiderqian. He was chairman of the Electricity Committee of the City Council, but he had never attempted to influence council officials in respect to the coal tenders of Byrnes, Limited, or Peacock, nor had he been in collusion with anyone to prevent the acceptance of Moore’s tender. Witness declared that it was only the “ derelicts ” of the coal trade who made the charges under review by the commission, and it was only political propaganda. The Labour Party administration was the cleanest since the charter was granted to Sydney. The hearing of evidence was adjourned to October 3, when it is expected that Johnston, former manager for Brynes. Limited, will be well enough to attend. INTIMIDATION CHARGES. SYDNEY, August 21. Replying in the witness box to the charges of intimidation preferred against him, Jacob Johnson, general secretary of the Seamen’s Union, said that nobody declared that Rigby was a scab, but a special meeting of seamen adopted a

resolution that the crew of the Katoora should leave the ship forthwith, and provided that they did so, they would be exonerated from the scabby action into which they had been deceived ” when they took the ship to sea from Adelaide without cooks. A similar resolution was passed next <1 iv covering the steamer Barwon, to which Rio-bv belonged. ° J BATTERY USED ON HORSE. MELBOURNE, August 21. John Hook, the rider of the mare Halloween, on which an electric be.tterv was found at the Richmond race course on July 23, was fined £lO, the maximum penalty. An expert said that the saddle contained three dry cells, capable of giving a “hock of 800 volts, which would be sufiicient to make :i horse frcuiih*. PENSION FOR WAR WIDOWS. „ . • CANBERRA, August 21. Cabinet decided to fix the pensions of w-ar widows at 42s a week irrespective of other income, instead of the present minimum of 23s 6d a week. HUDDART-PARKER COMPANY”. SYDNEY, August 22. Tlie Huddart-Parker Company is "restoring the direct steamer service from Sydney to Hobart from September 1 with the Bombala (formerly in the Western Australian trade). There will be a big increase in fares. The ill-fated Ri verina formerly maintained this service. ABERDARE CENTRAL MIXE. SYDNEY, August 22. The Aberdare Central Mine at Cessnock, which has been idle for the past five months owing to trade depression, is to be reopened, miners having agreed to accept the management’s proposals. OPERATIC STARS WED. SY’DNEY, August 23. With all the pageantry of some olden day princess, Signorina Toti dal Monte, the famous opera singer, was this morning married to Signor Enzodemuro Lomanto, barrister and tenor, the handsome singing companion to the Signorina in many operas. Both are members of the Wil-liamson-Melba Opera Company. The marriage ceremony was at St. Mary’s Cathedral, the very Rev. Dean Crowley officiating, while nuptial mass was celebrated by Father Delfrancesco. The weather was fine but cloudv, and a crowd of 20,000 stretched from the front of the cathedral across the road to Hyde Park. Thousands of women and girls fought desperately to get inside the cathedral, and hours before the ceremony at 11.30 o’clock, the city streets and tall buildings were thronged with excited women, who waved and cheered the prima donna as she motored through in a. large sedan, lavishly bedecked with hyacinths, sweet peas, violets and carnations. No wedding has aroused more interest because of its romantic associations. • The music at the cathedral included the bridal march, solo “ Ave Maria,” bySignor Arangi Lombardi, and Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March,” all of which were glorious. Many delegates to the forthcoming Eucharistic Congress were present, and congratulated the couple. The bridal car was mobbed after leaving the cathedral, as it forced its wav through a seething mass of women, who struggled to obtain souvenirs. In a few minutes every vestage of tlie floral decorations and ribbons on the car had disappeared or had been torn to shreds. Many women fell in front of cars, but fortunately no accident occurred. TWO SISTERS MURDERED. SYDNEY”, August 26. A young man who was arrested at Kogarah in connection with impositions on various people by which it is alleged, he obtained moneys, is now- believed to be able to throw light on the murder of Mrs Falvey and her sister, Esther Vaughan, at Marrickville on June 20 The police are reticent, but the man is being held pending further investigations. ° The man who was arrested on suspicion of the Marrickville murders is John Patrick Reypolds, aged 18 He was formerly charged th. ■ evening with the murder of Mrs Falvey and Miss V aughan and remanded. The police state that Ins description tallies with that furDished, by persons who saw ’ ae man leave the women’s shop after the shots had been fired, but they place reliance on finger prints.