MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1920, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

j (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) I FIJI CONSTITUTION. SUVA, Jan. 9. The Fiji Constitution is to be alter--1 ed, allowing Indians to elect two re- | presentatives to the Legislative Council. MEXICAN EARTHQUAKE. MEXICO COTY, January 8. The town of Couzetlan was destroyed by last Saturday’s earthquake. There are a thousand dead there. ■ The entire garrison of Teocelo were killed. A dozen towns in Vera Cruz State were partly or totally destroyed. The village of Calcahualco was engulfed with numbers of the inhabitants. At San Juan, Coscon:atepec, many unidentified corpses now float in a sulphurous stream.

GERMAN WAR PRISONERS. TOKIO, January 7. W thousand German war prisoners have just sailed for Germany from Japan. CHINA’S FINANCES. TIENTSIN, Jan. 7. The Customs revenue for China for 1919, was forty-six million taels, creating a record. Yet the Treasury is practically empty, allegedly owing to squandering.

CONCLUDING LETTER. LONDON, Jan. 7. The Kaiser concludes his series of letters thug: “As material for an article I managed to get interesting details of the battleships “Rivadarin” and “Moreno,” which had been building for the Argentine:, but which have now been presented by England to Japan. These plans were quite confidential and were submitted me by the express permission of the President of the Argentine Republic. May you not have to fight against them! It is a great pity you did. not buy them !”

BRITISH COAL MINERS. LONLON, Jan. 8

While the railwaymen are debating the wage offer, the British coal miners Federation Executive is also sitting in conference in London. The miners and railwaymen belong to the Triple Alliance of Labour. ‘The Miners’ Executive are assembled to consider the question of a new wages demand by the miners. This is proposed in consequence of the owners making great profits on their export of coal.

RAILWAY TROUBLE. LONDON, Jan. 8.

The indications promise that there will ho a prolonged conference cf the delegates of the railwaymen. It is now regarded as practically certain, however, that the Government’s

rates for standard'will be referred back to the Railwaymen’s Negotiating Committee. It will be sent hack with instructions to them to re-open negotiations with the Government. GERMAN RAILWAYMEN. LONDON, Jan. 8. What is-termed a recrudescence of railwaymen’s troubles in central Germany is threatened. The fact of the matter is that the men are demanding the establishment of Soviets (like oc.ier branches of industry in Germany) and also higher wages.

INCREASE IN TUBERCULOSTS • PARIS, January 7.

The Director of the Pasteur Institute draws attention to the great increase in tuberculosis in the occupied regions of Northern due to under feeding in the war. He urges special treatment including children’s seaside and country vacation colonies, which have already 'been 'beneficially tried; medical inspection of schools, and State dispensaries.

PRINCE OF WALES. (Received This Day at 3 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7

Hon Lloyd George entertained the Prince of Wales at Downing Street at luncheon, for the purpose of meeting Signor Nitti. The Prince returns to Sandringham in a few days for the shooting and hunting. AMERICAN APPLES. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. It is! expected there will be large arrivals of American and Canadian apples in Engfiland well into May. International Apples Shippers Association estimates there is an equivalent of thirty million cases in storage in United States and Canada in the middle of Decern,tier.

AGAINST TERMS. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7

Tlie Railwaymens Conference in London is adjourned. -Mr Thomas announced that the delegates were overwhelmingly against the acceptance of the offer.

PORT OF LONDON. (Received This Day. at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7

The recent statement that the Port of London Authority had placed a special wharf and other facilities at the disposal of the Australian fruit trade is described as incorrect. The Authority is prepared to grant certain facilities provided no monopoly is held by onp firm.

JAPANESE TRADE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) TOKTO, Jan. 7

It is understood that Government intends to permit foreign owned steamers to engage in the Japanese coastal trade.

COMMERCIAL. LONDON, Jan. 7. P. and 0. Coy’s shares are £585 to £605.

Imports for 1919 of Australian and New Zealand wool to United Kingdom was 2,529,372 bales, compared with 852,874 for the previous year. London imports amounted to 1,558,014. At the tallow sales 2034 casks were offered and 1582 sold. Mutton, common sorts, advanced two shillings ; fail beef mixed, four shillings, mutton 109 s to 102 s, beef 118 s to 102 s. Tin stocks are 21,491.; on spot 1,800; afloat 2,728; delivered 2,340. I

. TELEPHONING BY LIGHT. ; (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. Professor Rankin has demonstrated telephoning by light. The transmission instrument (a photophone and gramaphone sound box) is delicately posed, a mirror replacing the needle. The effect of light upon the element seleneim, causes the mirrer to convey the sound oscillations received. ■ Rankin states sun light offers limitless opportunities for the transmission of speech, always allowing for the earth’s curvature.

BULGARIAN STRIKES. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SOFIA, Jan 8. Government has called reserves to act against the strikers. Traffic is everywhere at a standstill and there is fighting in man)’ towns.

INDIAN REFORMS. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) ALLAHABAD, Jan. 9

Government has provisionally decided on the distribution of one hundred seats in the new Indian Parliament in the provinces. There will be a heavy preponderance of Indians over Europeans. The total in the. Legislative Council will be Indians 49, Mosleums 29, Sikhs 2, landowners 7, whites 9, Indian commerce! 4.

For tlie Council of State it is proposed that the elected seats be Indian 21, Mosleums 9, Sikhs 1, Chamber of Commerce 2.

It is proposed that the elections to the Council be direct, and that local Government frame the franchise so ns to yield an electorate composed of men of wealth and position. Tlise proposals will be submitted to the informal Advisory Committee which he instituted for the purpose of consultation and reform. Proposals and criticism will he invited from various political bodies. DELHI, January 7.

The treatment of Indians in South East Africa has raised an angry cTiscusjsion on the racial question in the Indian National Congress at Amritsar. Immigration barriers have, not been made the specific subject of a resolution, but the attitude of the Congress shows that if the Imperial Government is unrible to obtain a fair treatment from the Dominions and colonies, then it must admit the Indian-demand for retaliation against the policy of excluding Indians from other parts of the 'Empire.

THE VARSITY RACE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) ! LONDON, January 8. The Varsity boat race will be rcyirned on March 27.