BRIEF ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 118, 16 February 1928, Page 10

BRIEF ITEMS

FROM FAR AND NEAR Biography of Thomas Hardy.—The London “Daily Telegraph” states that Thomas Hardy’s widow is writing his biography. Another volume of verse is also assured.—Press Assn. Lord Mayoralty for Perth.—The Premier' of West Australia, Mr. Collier, states that the Government has definitely recommended that a Lord Mayoralty should bo conferred upon Perth to mark the centenary of the city.—Press Assn. Death at Hermitage.—Advice has beeu received at Timaru that Air. S. G. Good, of Rangiora, expired suddenly at the Hermitage, where he arrived on Tuesday evening.—Press Assn. Engineer Resigns.—Following on a decision of the Gisborne Harbour Board to curtail its works, Mr. Campbell, the engineer of the board, has resigned.— Press Assn. Britain’s Export of Motor-cars.—ln the House of Commons, Sir Philip Cun-lifi'e-Lister, President of the Board of Trade, in answer to a question, said that the exports of touring and commercial motor-cars in 1924 totalled £4.869,000, and in 1927 £B,4s6,ooo.—Press Assn. British Duties on Port Wine.—The wine-growers of Oporto have petitioned the Portuguese Minister of Agriculture, suggesting that he seek a modification of the British duties on port wine.— Press Assn. Sale of Tawa Flat Sections.—Of 120 vacant sections at Tawa Flat offered for sale last night, 26 were sold by Mr.. D. Sloane at public auction. The sections are mostly a quarter of an acre in extent. Two corner sections each realised £l6O, while the lowest price was £5l. Executions in Britain.—Sir William Joynsou- Hicks, Home Secretary, in answer to a question, said the executions m Britain in 1918 totalled 10; in 1919, 13; m 1920, 23; in 1921, 5; in 1922, 22; in 1923, 14; and in 1924, 9.—A.P.A. and ‘Sun.” British Excess Profits Duty.—ln the House of Commons, the Chancellor of tho Exchequer, Air. Winston Churchill, in reply to a question, said that up te March 31 the excess profits duty collections would amount to £1,195,000,000, not counting £245,000,000 refunded. — A.P.A. and “Sun.” Unemployment in Britain.—The British unemployment returns continue to show a decline. The number ot workless on February 6 was 1,162,000, being 6700 less than the week previous, and 141,293 less than a year ago.—British; Official Wireless. Spain and the League.—ln the House of Commons, the Foreign Under-Secre-tary, Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson, in answer to a question, said that the Government was not aware that Spain had applied for re-entry into the League of Nations. The Government would warmly welcome Spain’s resumption and co-operation in the league's work. —A.P.A. and “Sun.” Abolition of the Lance—Air. DuffCooper, Financial Secretary to the War Office, stated in the House of Commons that the lance had been abolished as a weapon of war for Lancer Regiments at Home and abroad, but had been retained for experimental purposes. The question whether it should be retained as a weapon of war in India was one for the Government of India.—British Official Wireless. Death Sentence Commuted.—The Berlin correspondent of the London “Times" reports that the death sentence on the "Black Reichswehr” murderers has been commuted as follows: — Schulz, Klapproth, and Fuhrmann, to penal servitude for life; Umhofer, to fifteen years’ imprisonment. Arbitration Court’s Sittings.—The Arbitration Court concluded its Dunedin sittings yesterday and will proceed today to Timaru. The Court will sit at Blenheim on February 28, at Nelson on March 1, at Christchurch on Alarch 6, and at Wellington on March 21.—Press Assn.

Motor Cyclist Injured.—Near Akaroa last night Roy Gilbert, of Laverick’s Bay, was thrown from a motor-cycle as the result of a collision with a motorcar on a hill road. He was admitted to the Akaroa Hospital with a fractured leg and bruises. His conditions is not considered serious.—Press Assn.

Artificial Silk.—The English production of artificial silk for last year was valued at £38,066,066, says a, London message to the Sydney “Sun.” This establishes a new record by £13,000,060. Despite the huge demand, English producers are supplying 90 per cent, of home requirements and exporting an increasingly large amount of the product. Several new flotations are pending.

German Duty on Meat and Wheat. —According to the “Berliner Tageblatt," the German Food Department contemplates the abolition of the free import quota of frozen meat and tho substitution of a duty of 40 per cent, ad valorem. It also intends to raise the wheat duty to six marks per double, hundredweight.—Press Assn.

Demonstration Against Mond Party. —An A.P.A. and “Sun” message from Bagdad says that following the antiAlond demonstration, Cabinet has issued an ordinance for the flogging, with a maximum ot twenty-five lashes, of students under nineteen, participating in the illegal assembly and attempting to disturb the peace.

Hutt County Engineer.—At a special meeting held yesterday, applications for the position of engineer were considered by the Hutt County Council. It was decided that no appointment should be made in the meantime. . In the interim. Messrs. Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt will act as engineers to the county. Body Found in Lake.—The body of Mary Clark, aged 40. who had been .missing since Monday afternoon, was discovered on Tuesday in the Rotorua Lake in shallow water, a mile from the town. The deceased had been greatly depressed owing to bad health. A note was left behind indicating her intentions. —Press Assn. Injuries Prove Fatal.—A Public Works employee. Robert Samuel, employed at the Waikaremoana hydro-electric works at Kaitawa, fell off a wall on Tuesday, and received serious injuries, from which he died later in hospital. At the inquest at Wairoa a verdict was returned that deceased died from ininries received in an accidental fall from a ladder to the concrete floor of the surge chamber at Waikaremoana hydro-electric works. —Press Assn. School Syllabus Reform.—A statement was published some time ago in various newspapers to the effect that the Dducation Committee of the Sheffield Town. Council in England had brought into being a modernised and practical pnmarv schools’ .syllabus of a model nature. Inquiry shows that such a statement was incorrect, as all that had been done was to appoint a sub-committee to discuss and formulate in broad outline the curriculum of the primary schools. No decision has yet been reached, This is of special interest in view of t.ie work of the committee for the same purpose set up here over a year ago by the Minister of Education, which is to start the final sitting on February 21.