MISCELLANEOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1919, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS

Electric Telegraph—Copyright.; FIRES IN SHIPS. LONDON, December 22. The Commonwealth State Line lias offered a reward of £IOO for inform action leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of the fire on the Boonah. The numerous outbreaks on board ships at the docks are causing uneasiness in shipping circles, especially as they are not confined to ex-German steamers.

It has just transpired that while the P. and O. branch lino steamer ißeltana was waiting to embark passengers, four fires broke out in different All were promptly extinguished, and the damage done was very slight. Thie passengers were not aware of the outbreaks, the last of which was extinguished as the first passengers were mounting the gangway. .The ship’s departure was not delayed. The latest wireless message from the Beltana reports “All well,” and no further outbreaks of fire. LONDON, Dec. 22. In the House of Commons, Sir Auckland Geddes, President of the Board of Trade, said that investigations were proceeding to ascertain the causes of the fires on ex-German vessels. Probably some were due to old coal bunkers not having been cleaned out.

CHINA AND JAPAN. • NEW YORK, Dec. 22. The San Francisco correspondent of the “New York Times” states that several thousand Chineso there have declared a boycott on Japanese products. They ransacked a store and burned thousands of dollars worth of Japanese goods. THE MARTINSYDE DISASTER, LONDON, Dec. 22. Lloyd’s correspondent at Corfu writes —“During stormy, boisterous weather an aeroplane landed in St. George’s Bay, apparently in distress. Shouts were heard, and the peasants ' showed signals, but no assistance could be rendered owing to the weather “The machine lies on a sandy bottom in twelve feet of water. Probably the bodies of the aviators arc entangled in it. Tlie British tug Norda is attempting to raise the aeroplane. The manager of Messrs Martinsyde’s Ltd., points out that the fact that the airmen were able to call for help, indicates that they alighted on the water safely, for their cries could not be heard until the propellor stopped. A study of the Admiralty charts showed that they probably landed a quarter of a mile from the beach. They must have been very close otherwise their cries could not have been heard above the storm.

It is particularly sad to reflect that Captain C. E. Howell, after a long “blind” fight, failed to beach his machine ,although he was within sight of the shore lights.

THE DEPORTEES. WASHINGTON, Dee. 23. It is understood that the wives and children of the deported radicals will shortly be sent to join their relatives. EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. LONDON, Dec. 22. In the House of Commons, Mr Cecil Harmswortli, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, announced that the Govern ment had instructed Mr . O’Grady M.P to resume negotiations with Litvinoff re garding the exchange of prisoners. Mr O’Grady will return to Copenhagen after a brief visit to London.

UNREST IN EGYPT . CAIRO, Dee. 21. Aggression and intimidation by students keeps the unrest dangerously simmering. > Their main weapon at present is stone-throwing. Thare was never such stone throwing in history. Thousands of native students, with organised relays of bags, keep up barrages of stones, retiring behind walls and into buildings, from which they throw stones The tram services have been suspended owing to stone throwing. The movement is confined to the students, who call to their aid the street urchins and the rabble, but even the moderates are so intimidated that

they are afraid to express their views. Tho seriousness of the position is shown by the arrival of more troops. ELECTRICITY SUPPLY BILL. LONDON,. Dec. 22. In the House of Commons, Sir Eric Geddes moved to accept the Houfje of Lurds’ amendments to the Electricity Bill. He denied that, as a result of the Government accepting the emasculation of tlie Bill, compulsory acquisition would be reintroduced as a separate measure. The amendments wore agreed to. A STRANGE STORY. BERLIN, Dec. 22. Victor Sander, alias von Schenk, charged with burglary in 1918, pleaded that he was well supplied with money as an English spy, and therefore had no motive for tho theft. He said he was born in Bendigo, ms father a German-Australian, and his mother English. His duties as a spy were to persuade men on leave not return to tho front, and furnishing them with the necessary papers. The case was remitted to another court, owing to doubts regarding tic identity of tho accused .

CHRISTMAS IN LONDON. AN ORGY OF SPENDING . LONDON, Dec. 22. The Christmas holiday season promises to be a wonderful round of gaiety. There is every indication that it will eclipse all pre-war records. The hotels and hydros, and_tlie country and seaside resorts are crowded. Many have been booked up since the autumn.

The theatres and restaurants are heavily booked up, and there has been a remarkable revival of public and private dancing. The orgy of spending continues unabated. The shops and street are thronged. Expensive articles, such as furs and jewels in the West End stores are selling faster than ever. A significant feature of the crowds is the great preponderance of manufacturers who are benefiting by the high prices, and the comparative absence of the middle-class salaried people wlio havo been hit by the increased cost of living. On the other hand skilled workmen and labourers are enjoying high wages, and are speding freely. Food is plentiful, except turkeys.