AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 28 February 1929, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Press Association—Copyright) LAUNCESTON, February 27. A single-barrelled gun was found under the burned body of Thomas Archer, after a lire destroyed his home, near Devonport yesterday, wiping out the whole family. The gun contained a discharged cartridge. MELBOURNE, February 27. Joseph Kean, third officer on the Kanowna, gave evidence at the Marine Court of Inquiry, that there was a three to four knot current running when the Kanowna struck the rocks. Witness was asked whether if that were so why the steamer Makarra, which was not far away when the Kanowna struck, should not find herself in the same plight. Witness replied: Yes, you would think so. The hearing was adjourned. SYDNEY, February 26. The Timber Merchants’ Association is standing firm against the strikers, declaring that, whatever happens the Lukin award must be observed, even if the employees’ secret ballot approves a continuance of the strike the employers cannot allow the strike ballot decision to overrule the award. At Melbourne a mass meeting of carpenters to-day demanded that Judge Lukin should be taken before the Bar of the Federal House to explan his attitude in depriving workers of the 44-hours’ working week. They also threatened to withdraw all carpenters from existing public works. SY DNEY, February 27. The Commonwealth statistician reveals that, compared with December, 1928, there was a general increase during January in the eost of living in all States, Western Australia heading the list with an increase of 9.7 per cent. The increased cost since 1914 is greatest m New South Wales, with 68.1 per cent, and Western Australia is lowest with 39.4 per cent. A razor was also iound on the bed. A brief bag was found in the garden containing a barely decipherable note, ending: “Good-bye, Tom.” [A cottage tenanted by a family named Archer, near Devonport, was burned down on Tuesday. The bodies of seven occupants, charred beyond recognition. were found in the ruins. The family consisted of Thomas Archer, aged 49, his wife, Olive, aged 35, two daughters aged 11 and 9, and his three sons, aged six years, four years, and 10 months. All the bodies were found in bed, except that of the father, which was beside his bed.]