AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 19100, 19 November 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.)' (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, November 17. Barred by his own recently-issued ukase against street-speaking the Chief Secretary had reluctantly to decline speaking at the open-air hospital carnival display. Sir George Fuller declined speaking for the same reason. SY’DNEY, November 17. Drought conditions in the north and north-west wheat areas are very serious. Owing to the crops being largely a failure growers are threatened with ruin, and are seeking Government assistance to tide them over till next season’s crop. Sir George Fuller has promised substantial assistance. SYDNEY, November 17. (Received November 17, 5.5 p.m.) Three cases of anthrax are reported at Wollongong, due to the use of infected shaving brushes. ADELAIDE, November 17. The South Australian drink bill for the past year was £2,500,000. Convictions for drunkenness totalled 3,764. The figures for the previous year were £2,431,000 and 3443 respectively. The average consumption of liquor was less. The increase in the bill was due to increased charges. BRISBANE, November 16. A fire at Richmond destroyed a block of shops and the post office. The damage amounts to £30,000. BRISBANE, November 17. Miss Millie Cowell, daughter of the licensee of the Commercial Hotel, was burned to death in yesterday's fire at Richmond. The outbreak occurred at three in the morning. Miss Cowell aroused most of the people in the building before she was overcome herself. MELBOURNE, November 17. The taxpayers evergreen grumble against the cost of the combined State and Federal administration has received a fillip from figures supplied by the Federal Commissioner showing that the Commonwealth alone finds employment for 41,620 persons with an annual pay roll of £7,801,000, exclusive of overtime and travelling expenses.