MISCELLANEOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1920, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS

Hy Electric Telegraph—Copyright.;

FINANCIAL DANGER

LONDON. Jan. 2<i

Mr Chamberlain speaking at Birmingham, referring to the world’s financial situation,- said the first thing the European nations must do was to down houses in order to stop borrowing from one another or from their own people to meet- current expenses. He believed the national debt had reached its maximum. Once we turned the .corner, which he believed would be the next financial year, it would be our business to consider the funding of the largo existing floating debt, thus removing from commercial and financial centres the cloud of anxiety which at present rested on them.

Mr Chamberlain added : There were some favourable signs in the situation. Trade was very prosperous and the adverse trade balance was being rapidly .reduced. It did not exceed 150 million sterling for the past year and he would bo disappointed if the New Year closed without the deficit being converted into a balance in our favour by at least 150 millions. Ho expressed tho opinion that in a few years, we would be able to look upon the present trials and difficulties as an historical curiosity.

GERMAN CURRENCY 1 LONDON, Jan. 20. The value of tho German mark has dropped to one penny. [The value of the mark in pre-war times was one shilling.]

CORK CITY BURLESQUE. LONDON, Jan. 20. Sinn Fein controls Cork City and has duly nominated three persons to the Lord Lieutenant for the position of High Sheriff, whose duty will be to summon juries and receive Judges at the Sessions on behalf of the city. live three nominees are persons charged with criminal offences —one for wounding a policeman, the second for having a store of bombs, and other explosives and the third is charged with attempted murder. The first is still in prison awaiting trial. The other two escaped when a gang raided the gaol, overpowered the warders, and released the prisoners,- who are still at large.

AN APPEAL. LONDON, Jan. 23. In the New Zealand Appeal case, the Union Steamship Coy., versus Robin, the Privy Council have intimated that they are in' respondent’s favour, and do not desire to hear the respondents further at present. The Council have reserved judgment.

HIGH COMMISSIONER. ' 1 LONDON, Jan. 23. Interviewed relative to the possible appointment of a successor to himself, Sir T. MacKenzie states that he has received no communication from the Government about* the position. Sir T. MacKenzie denies Mr- G. W. Bussell, the ex-Minister of Internal Affairs’ statement that he has only been willing to accept re-appointment on four months’ notice. It was the Government, he said, that was unwilling to grant him any longer extension after the first year’s extension, and he was still at the Government’s disposal.

COSTLY LAW SUIT. LONDON, Jan. 23. There was a sensational ending to a big Manchester law-suit, in which the creditors of the Hare Spinning Coy., sued Sir John Leigh, of the "firm of John Leigh Ltd., and four cx-Directors of the Hare Spinning Coy. for damages. The plaintiffs alleged a conspiracy of fraud, in which the Hare Company sold common waste to the Leigh Company below its value, anl purchased cotton from the Leigh Coy. above its value. Several King’s Counsels appeared on both sides and the retainers of the two loaders are said to Ire a record. Sir John Simon led for the defence. Sir E. Carson was originally retained for the-plaintiffs, but he returned the brief, refusing to take up the prosecution of those alleged to be guilty of fraud.

Counsel’s opening speech lasted for eight days, and the ease was expected to last for thirty days, while costjng six pounds per minute. The principal witness for the plain, tiff's had been in the box for three days. He admitted to-day that lie gave some false evidence yesterday. Counsel forthwith agreed to judgment for defendants with full costs. Plaintiffs have been required to furnish thirty thousand security for costs, whereas the highest costs in any previous case havo only been ten thousand.

A DUCHESS’ MARRIAGE. LONDON, Jan. 23. The Duchss of Westminster, whose divorce was made absolute on December 19th, was secretly married to ex-Cap-tain James Lewis, of the Air Force. They met when Captain Lewis was undergoing treatment at the Duchess’s Hospital in France. Lewis, prior to the war, was in business at Lloyds. Ho is a sportsman, a billiard player, and an amateur actor. For some time ho had been the Duchess’s private Secretary. lie is a few years her junior.

FREEMAN’S JOURNAL. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 24. The ban on “.Freeman's Journal” lias been removed, and its publication resumes on 'Wednesday. A FLY TO CAPETOWN. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 24. Captains Boomo and Cokerill, formerly of the Air Force, aboard a Vickers airplano similar to Ross-Smitli’s have left Brooktamls' apd aro attempting to Hy to Capetown.

HELD FOR TRIAL. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, Jan. 24. Seven Germans, including an army captain’s wife were lodged in Lille Citadel, to await trial on a charge of pillaging during the occupation. GERMAN DIGNITY. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) •v PARIS, Jan. 24. German naval authorities in the Baltic announce that German dignity forbids any communication except official, with foreigners, on Allied commissions.

THE FIRST SALUTE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, Jan. 24. The British warship Malay on arriving at Wilhelmshaven, fired the first salute to the Germans since 1914.