MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1920, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

•fly Electric Telegraph—Copyright.; COST OF LIVING. LONDON, Feb. 15. The index of the cost of living is now 136 per cent, above the pre-war standard despite the bread subsidy £50,000,000. Owing to a further depreciation in the value of the pound sterling, the Government is faced with the alternative of a shilling loaf or of doubling the subsidy. Butter, is being retailed at 5s 6d a pbund, cheese Is Bd, milk Is and condensed milk Is sd. INCREASES IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, Feb. 18. The prices of potatoes are soaring, and Victoran have reached £25 per ton. PROTEST AGAINST JAPANESE OWNERSHIP. VANCOUVER, Feb. 15.

The Associated Boards of Trade of British Columbia have passed a resolution urging the Canadian Government to take immediate action to prevent Japanese ownership of land in Canada. It is asserted that there is a larger proportion of Japanese in British Columbia than in California.

The Japanese Consul-General, Mr Ukita, says many Japanese are naturalised Canadian citizens, and cannot be preventcl from owning land. He adds that Japanese capital will not be attracted to Canada, if public sentiment against the Japanese continues. A resolution of opposition to the alien ownership of land was adopted recently by the Boards of Trade Convention in the face of an appeal by the Japanese Consul-General, Mr Ukita, who said: “I hope the Canadians will not say “Good-bye” to Japan, after enjoying advantages under the Anglo-Ja-panese Treaty.” Mr Ukita denied that a Japanese syndicate was attempting to purchase Coldstream, the Earl of Aberdeen’s famous ranch, and one of the show places of the Okanogan fruit district.

LOAN FLOATED. LONDON, Feb. 18. ' The New South Wales loan has been j covered. ANGLO-GERMAN TRADE. x BERLIN, Feb. 18. The German exports to Britain in 1919 were worth about a million sterling and the German imports from Britain fourteen and three-quarter million. aerial assistance, THE DERVISHES DESTROYED, (Received This Day at 8 fl.m.) LONDON, February 18. In the Commons, Mr Amery, stated that aeroplanes participated with notable success in the operations against the Mad Mullah. The Mullah escaped, but the positions were captured with great booty, and the power of (he Dervishes wa s entirely destroyed. The Allied Supreme Council has finally decided on the internatiopalisatipp of the Dardanelles. The N.S.W. Necessary Commodities Commission have been enquiring into the price of boots. They have decided to lift the proclamation fixing tho prices as prevailing January Bth. This is owing to the increasing cost of hides. The manufacturers state the factory price exceeds the retail price, MELBOURNE. Feb. 18. Victorian mliions will be manufacturing flour for the Imperial Government during the next few months. CRUISER FOR NEW ZEALAND. (Received this dnv at 9.20 a.m.) LONDON. Feb. 18. The. cruiser Diaiia, which has been presented to New Zealand as a training ship, is being fitted out at Chatham. [The Diana was built in 1897, displaces 5,600 tons, carries eleven G-in. guns, 9,600 horse-power, with a speed of 18]- knots.] FORESHADOWED. -L (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.") /••'I .. LONDON, Feb. 18. In view of the increased railway charges and postal employees; demands, it is expected the Budget will announce a higher postage rate, while the parcel post will be increased -50 per cent. INFLUENZA RAVAGES}. (Received this day at 9.20 a.m.) VIENNA, Feb. I§. There are 40,000 cases of influenza, and tho number is increasing, The hospitals are choked. It is believed the lack ofcoal has encouraged the infection. An all-night service of electric-coffin cars has been inaugurated, while the tramcars are specially fitted to carry 32 coffins. WHEAT SUPPLY, (Received this day at It*.l”. •> • ' NEW YORK, Feb. 18. The Chicago visible wheat and flour east of the Rockies is 60,918,000 bushels,