MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1919, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) :> A HUGE METEOR. NEW YORK, November 27. A telegram from Michigan City says that an enormous meteor fell into Lake Michigan., Columns of water and flames a hundred feet high shot up into the air, AMERICAN WONDER. NEW YORK, November 27. A telegram from Michigan states an enormous column of water, and flames one hundred feet high, shot up into the air. A PROTEST. WASHINGTON, November 27. Japan, China, South Africa and India protested against the composition of the governing body of the International Labour Office as over representative of Elurope. ’ AFRICAN MOVE. CAPETOWN, November 27.

As a result of the dissatisfaction prevailing in South Africa over the exportation of foodstuffs, of which there is a, shortage locally, a special meeting of the Executive of the Federation of Trades has been hold. It has decided to ask all the affiliated Unions to refuse to handle any and all foodstuffs destined for exportation from the South African ports.

BRITISH COAL PRICES. LONDON, November 25. Sir E. Geddes made a dramatic announcement in reference to the price of cpal which astonished the 'House of Commons. He stated that the price can be reduced by 10/- per ton. The trade and public alike, interpret the reduction as a first step in a general attack on high prices. " No one expected a ten shilling fall, especially as the Government has been actually subsidising the companies in supplying household coal to the extent of 3/4 per ton. The reduction represents a sum of £15,000,000 as the household coal totals approximate thirty million tons out of 185,000,000 tons which is the total island annual consumption. Sir Eric Geddes in July last estimated that his department would receive * 35/- per ton for exported coal, but the price in October was actually as high as 62/8. It is still doubtful, however, whether a necessity for raising railway rates may not necessitate again raising prices.

(‘LAND OF SKELETONS.” LONDON, Nov. 27. The “Daily Mail” to-day publishes New South Wales news under the head ing “A Land of Skeletons.” The newspapers give prominence to Mr Holman’s telegram stating that many parts of New South Wales are not affected m f drought and that useful rains have SCL the north-west.

TRIBESMEN give IN. LONDON, Nov. 27. Latest news regarding the expeditions sent over the Indian frontier to minish the tribesmen is that the outEiding section of the Wazirs has at S unreservedly accepted the British terms. ——i

EXAGGERATED REPORTS. LONDON, November 27. . In the House of Commons, Mr Low-

ther called attention to a statement made that Germany had -an army of over half a million men on a war footing.

Mr Bouar Law replied that to the best of the Government’s belief this statement was an exaggeration. The Supreme Council was meeting to consider this question, in order that the terms of the Treaty after its ratification may be enforced. Mr Bonar Law pointed out .that a limitation of the German Army would only become effective after ratification. Marshal Foch could be trusted not to overlook the strength of the' German forces.

BRITAIN AND JAPAN; LONDON,, November 26

In the House of Commons, Sir E. Geddes in reply to various questions regarding British and Japanese trade competition, stated that skilled time workers in Britain were being paid from ten shillings to as much as fifteen shillings for ah eight-hour 'day while some skilled workers in Japan were paid nine shllings per day. , He said the latter was for a twelve-hour day. Yet other factors had to be considered. He said that there was no reason at present to fear that British manufacturers would be unable to hold their town in competition, with Japanese 'mataufaerturers.l There has been an enormous increase in the output of Japanese goods in war time, but this was wholly artificial. Hh did not believe that these goods could hold the British or other markets, when they were again subject to British competition. He said that markets which Japan had apparently gained in war time were hungering for British goods.

ALLENUBY’S ORDERS. , • CAIRO, Nov. 24

Addressing the three Native leaders of the Zoghbul, the British Viceroy, General Allenby, ordered two of them to return to their country homes, and the third to remain in Cairo and avoid any more agitation for self Government. .

Allenby added that he wad determined not to tolerate any Egyptian interference in the British administration of the country.

Two native newspapers have since been suspended. The three native lead-

ers whom Allenhy ordered to agitate no more have now been arrested. The Internationalists who were ordered by Marshal Allenby to leave Cairo were Mahmud Pasha Suliman, the President of the Society organising the Independence agitation, and Ibraicim Pasha Said, the vice-President. They declined to go away from Cairo, to their provincial estates, and were then arrested.

STRIKE NEGOTIATIONS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 28

All the coal mine strike negotiations are off and the participants have returned to their homes.

A NEW DISCOVERY. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 25,

A new artificial light device has been invented by G. Sheringham, an artist, and is exhibited at the Imperial College. It consists of apparatus' reflecting electric light against a multi-colour-ed screen. It is an important scientific discovery and is exceedingly, restful to the eyes. It increases the visibility of colours, and is likely to be widely used for show windows, art galleries, colour photography and many industries. A GREEK PLOT. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) ATHENS, Nov 25. A plot engineered by retired Constantine Officers to murder Venezelos and overthrow the present regime has been made. A minute enquiry is proceeding and full avowals have been obtained, and the culprits will be court- , martialled immediately . WHITE PAPER- FINDINGS. (Received This Da* at. 8.4J5 a.m.) i [LONDON, November 20. A White Paper estimates the world’s wheat yield for 1919 at 99.3 and of five years average pre-war yield; m&r 56.3; wool 91-8; compared, with. The' coal output of America, Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and German for the first half ears of 1919 is 80.6, compared with 1913. A comparison of the expansion, o currency .with the rise of wholesale food prices, taking one hundred in 1912 as the basis shows Sweden’s currency expanded to 274, food 239; Britain 244, food 257,; France 365, food 330; Italiy 440, food 324; America 173, food 236The Public debt per head since" the war had increased in Britain by 157, Geraiany 128; France 114; Italy 73; Austria 89; Belgium 74; America o 5; all sterling. Japan’s debt increased only 31 per head.

SOCCER TEAM. (Received this day, at 9-30 a.m.) LONDON, November 25

Arrangements have been made to send an amateur soccer team to New Zealand and Australia for the 1921 season, if the Dominions finance the tour.

SURBITON DISASTER . t LONDON, November 25. The Air Ministry’s enquiry into the Surbiton crash is proceeding slowly. The Committee examined Mis s Woolley an investigated her allegation that the machine was inadequately teste . n dependent evidence produced satisfied the Committee that the machine ac made several flights the previous day with its full equipment. 'The aggrega o flying time was two hours, which was sufficient. The enquiry is now directed towards establishing the full weight jcarriedjf The machine was equipped with a specially large petrol tank. The evidence shows it was not full on the day of the disaster,

MADAME PATTI’S ESTATE. . (Received this day, at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 25. Madame Patti left an estate of £116,337 gross.

LADY ASTOR ELECTED. LONDON, November 28 Plymouth election resulted: Xlady Aster 14,494. Gav (Labourite) 9,292. Hoot (Liberal) 4,139.