MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1919, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

fAUSTRALIAN it N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

SINN FEIN PARLIAMENT. INDEPENDENT MINISTRY. LONDON, Jan. 22. The Sinn Fein Assembly has decided on sotting up an Independent Ministry. ft is to consist of a President anil four Executve officers, namely, a Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a Minister of National Defence. At the opening ceremony, the proceedings were conducted in the Gaelic I language. I Count Plunkett read an appeal to I the nations, asking for the recognition I of Ireland’s national status, and her I right to vindication at the Peace Con-1 ference. I £1,600,000,000 IN WAR BONDS. LONDON, Jan. 20. It is anticipated that the total sub-1 scription for war bonds, whereof the I sale ceased, on Sunday will exccel j £1,600.000,000 for tho period since j sales opened in October 1917.

CANADA’S FINANCES. OITAWA, Jan. 22. Speaking at Winnipeg, Hon. Mr Meaghau, Dominion Minister for In tornal Affairs, said that Canada intends expending ten million sterling on public works and new railways. The Canadian war debt he stated, had reached a total of £200,000,000. The country’s total debt was expected to reach three hundred millions. DRURY LANE THEATRE. (Received This Dav af- 0.50. a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 22. Butt has withdrawn his offer to purchase Drury Lane theatre. The Board has rescinded its provisional contract, and lias appointed an auctioneer to receive future offers. GOVERNMENT ACTION. (Received This Day at 10.35. n.m.) , LONDON, Jan. 22. The Portuguese Government has sent an important contingent to suppress the Royalist conspiracy. Government j officials state they have the position well in hand, and the recognised leaders of the Monarchist Party do not | support the movement. They showed the ring-leaders' telegram from ex-king Manuel deprecating the .attempts at the restoration of the Monarchy,

DESTROYING OPIUM. (Received This Day at 10.35. a.m.) SHANGHAI, Jan. 22. " The destruction of Indian opium has begun, 120 chests being burned on Friday. Altogether over one thousand chests, valued at $30,000,000, will he destroyed.

THE IRISH REPUBLIC,

(Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Jan, 22

The Trish Republican Parliament opened a sitting in Dublin Mansion House this afternoon. Dublin Castle has apparently decided to ignore it as Jong as it is confined to talking. Proceedings will be bi-linguiil, and official reports will lie issued in Irish. It ■« hoped the newspapers will publish them in this form, despite the fact that even the Sinn Fein leaders use English. The first "Business is the appointment of De Valera', Arthur Griffon and Count Plunkett as delegates to the Peace Conference; then a declaration of Irish Independence, and the election of th e first President of the Irish Republic.

STOCK EXCHANGE CRITICLSAL (Received this day at 11.25 a.in.) LONDON, January 22. There are many criticisms on the Stock Exchange on the new issue of war bonds. It is considered that the interest is at least fifty per cent too high. Some talk of a breach of faith j«°makiug the new issue practically the same as the old, after the public were invited not to miss the last chance ol securing bonds, before last. Saturday. Consols have dropped to £59///6.

RESTRICTION WITHDRAWN. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.; LONDON, January 22

The War Office has withdrawn the restriction on dealings in Woollen yarn for consumption in United Kingdom.

ITALIAN SEIZURE. (Received This Day at 1.5. P- m -) WASHINGTON, Jan. 23. The Serbian Bureau has announced that Italians seized the Jugo-Slav vessel Deliara, (lying the American flag.

THE BRITISH PROPOSAL. (Received this day at 1.5 P- m -) PARIS, Jan. 23

The British proposal for a League of Nations, takes the form of a non-rigid conciliation body, not possessing binding powers, but based on a sufficient international guarantee to be effective.