EVENTS OF 1934

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 85, 4 January 1935, Page 6

EVENTS OF 1934

The European Turmoil BRITAIN’S RECOVERY New Zealand Milestones The year 103-1 was one of the most troublous since the close of the Great War in I'JIS. European statesmen faced grave situations,’ notably the assassinations of King Alexander of Yugoslavia, and of Dr. Dnglebert Dollfuss, Chancellor of Austria. Tne death of President Hindenberg and the election of Herr Hitler to be President of Germany for life, were also outstanding events. Almost alone among .European countries Britain showed clear and unmistakable signs of improved trade conditions. New Zealand was not without its outstanding events, which included the celebrations »at Waitangi, the foundation of the Central Reserve Bank, anu the opening of the Waitaki hydroelectric scheme.

It was a year also of eartluiuakes and storms, and in these few parts of the world were immune.

Britain's ambition to recapture the shipping supremacy of the world was seen in the launching of the Queen Mary, the largest ship ever built. Outstanding events during the year included the following:— Jan. 9. —Terrific storms cause loss of life and much damage in New South

Wales and Victoria. Jan. 14. —Kingsford Smith crosses Tasman, landing at New Plymouth, making his fifth crossing. Jan. Io. —•Drench air-mail liner Emeraud crashed in flames at Corbigny, the pilot and nine passengers being . killed. India experiences worst earthquake in living memory, thousands of people being killed. Jan. 31. —New American gold dollar becomes effective at 59.04 i per cent, of

its former weight. Deb., 5. —Opening, of Waitangi celebra-

tions. Feb. 7. —Violent riots and. street hghting occur in heart of Paris. • Feb. B.—Amalgamation White Star and Canard Lines announced. A complete televised programme from a talkie film shown in England. Feb. 12.—Pitched battles against Socialists in streets: of Vienna, and other places in Austria,.and martial law proclaimed. Deaths numbered nearly 2900. ■ , , T Fob. 13.—Heavy damage in Hawke s Bay by floods. Feb. 15.—New,Zealand chilled beet arrives in London in excellent condition, and considered by experts to be superior to Australian, Canadian, or South African, and equal to Argentine. Feb. 10.—Minister of Finance, -Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, announces New Zealand Reserve Bank shares more than four times over-subscribed. Feb. 18.—King Albert of Belgium killed while climbing a mountain near Namur. Feb. 23.—King Leopold of Belgium who succeeded King Albert, takes the oath. Sir Edward Elgar, famous composer, died at Worcester, aged 76. Feb. 25. —Archbishop Redwood celebrates his diamond jubilee. Mar. I.—Henry Pu Yi, last of 300-yenr-old Ching Dynasty made Emperor of YJJinchukuo. Mar. s.—(Severe earthquake causes damage at Wanganui, Masterton, Palmerston North, Levin, and Wodd- ■ ville. Sir Arthur D. Dobson, a Canterbury pioneer, died, aged 92 years. Mar. 15.—(Mr. G. B. Shaw arrives in New Zealand. Mar. . 17— Cambridge beats Oxford m annual boat race for tenth time in succession. Mar. 21.—City of Hakodate, Japaji, -le- • stroyed by fire, rendering 150,000 homeless, and killing nearly 2000 people. . Mar. 31.—Surplus of £31,000,000 in British Budget announced. April 7. —Mr. Janies Archer Crawford, Crimean war veteran, dies at Nasebv, aged 104 years.. April 12. —Mr. C. P. Ulm arrived at New Plymouth with first air-mail- from Australia. May 23.—Miss Jean Batten arrives at Darwin, after flying from England and breaking Mrs. Amy Mollisou s record by three days. Juile 6. —Sir Francis Bell, K.C., com pletes 60 years as a barrister. June 11—Dr. F. W. Norwood, Minister of City Temple, London, arrives "J Wellington. June 14.—Mux Baer defeated Primo Camera in world's heavyweight boxing contest. June 16. —United States public . debt reaches greatest total in nation's history, £5.410,000.000. July 2.—Henry Cotton wins British Open * Golf championship,, breaking 11 years’ run of American players. July 4<—Madame Curie, discoverer of radium, died, aged 67 years. July 7.—Fred Perry, first Englishman to win tennis championship lit Wimbledon for 24 years. July 21.—John Dillinger, United States gangster, shot while leaving a theatre. " July 26.—Dr. Englebert Dollfuss, Austrian Chancellor, killed by Nazis. Aug. 2.—President Hindenberg died. Herr Hitler succeeded him a<s? President. Aug. 15.—Dr. William Beebe, sets record for deep-sea diving in ' his ‘■Bathysphere,” reaching depth of 302 S feet. Aug. 19. —Bradman and Ponsford make record first wicket partnership of 574 runs in Fifth Cricket Test, Australia v. England. Aug. 28.—Engagement of Prince George of England and Princess- Marina, of Greece,' announced.' Sept. 2.—Commander Evangeline Booth elected General of the. Salvation Army. Sept. 3. —Duke of Gloucester left England on his tour to Australia and

New Zealand. •Sept S. —Morrb. Castle returning to New York from “luxury” cruise to Havana burnt with large loss of life. Sept. 10.—Russia admitted to a permanent sent on. the Council of the League of Nations. Sept. 15.- —Use of motor horns prohibit ed in United Kingdom at night o'i all roads in built-upuireas. Sept 21.—-Typhoon in Japan kills over 2000 people and does damage exceeding £50.000.000. Sept. 24.—American defender wins the America's Cup. Sept. 26.—" Queen Mary,” world's larg-' est liner, launched in the Clyde. Oct. I.—Hurricane causes heavy damage in the Wairarapa. •Oct. 2.—Announcement of appointment of Viscount Galway to succeed Lor-' 1 Bledisloe as Governor-General of New Zealand. Oct. 9. —King Alexander, of Yugoslavia and M. Barthon. French Foreign Minister, assassinated at Marseilles. Oct. 15. —Death of M. Raymond Poincnire, ex-President of France. Oct. 16.—Herr Hitler made absolute ruler of Germany for life. Oct. IS.—Commission’s Report for rehabilitation of dairy industry in Xew Zealand presented to Parliament. Oct. 23.—Mr. C. W. A. Scott and Mr. 'l'. Campbell-Black win Melbourne Centenary Air Race in 70 hours 51 minutes. _ Oct. 28.—Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor and Mr. H. C. Walker, gam fifth place in the Melbourne Centenary Air Race. Oct. 28. —Waitaki Hydro-electro Works ■opened. Nov. 2. —Hewitt and Kay reach Melbourne in Centenary Air Race. Nov. 7.—Democrats obtain sweeping victory in United States elections. Nov. 11.—Duke of Gloucester dedicates

‘ shrine of remembrance in Melbourne. Nov. 14. —Hewett and Kay fly the Tasman. Nov. 22.—Flying-Offieer Ray Whitehead and Mr. R. Nicholl fly the Tasman. Nov. 29.—Wedding of Prince George and Princess Marina. Dec. 6. —Mr. 0. T. P. Ulm and companions forced down into the M.i near Honolulu during flight from United States, and drowned. Dec. 15.—Duke of Gloucester arrives in ' Wellington.