MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1920, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

fAUSTRALIAN i» N'.Z CARLE ASSOCIATION]

TROUSERS SEIZURE. NEW YORK, February 4

Confiscation of liis trousers is the fate that apparently awaits the rash man who breaks the Prohibition laws by taking a flasli of liquor in hip pocket on going out to dine. The enforcement of the Act provides that where a person is found tmasporting liquor the punishment shall include the impounding of the vehicle in which the forbidden fluid is being carried. Yesterday, at Chicago, the police arrested Mr Charles Neil Thomas, president of the Commercial Trust and Securities Company, who is alleged to have served liquor to his dining companions out of a pocket flash. But the chief of police, besides charging the banker with distributing liquor in a public place, adds the further charge of transporting alcoholic beverage. ITo declares that if the latter charge is maintained the law will require him to seize the trousers which were the vehicle, employed to convey the liquor.

EXCHANGE rates . (Received This Dav at 8 a.m.) LONDON, April 6. Exchange rates are—Paris .59.65; Stockholm 18.14; Christiania 19.93; Calcutta 28J pence; Montreal 436 cents New York 402 J cents. * INTERNATIONAL SOCCER. LONDON, April 6. At Soccer (amateur) England heat France by five goals to nil, at Rouen. BY ELECTION. LONDON, April 6. Viscount Grey has written to Mr Runciman, hoping he is successful in North Edinburgh bye-election. Lord Grey says the last general election resulted in an abnormal House of Commons ,owing to the absence of effective opposition. Public confidence in constitutional methods has, thus been since undermined. This was a serious danger at the present time.

AMERICAN NAVAL EXPANSION. LONDON, April 6. The Naval Committee have appropriated a million dollars for a deepwater naval base in San Francisco. Mr Daniels stated that the project would eventually cost eighty million sterling. MARY PICKFORD. NEW YORK, April 6. A sensational investigation is anticipated in connection with a series of charges of alleged bribery of court officials and lawyers in Nevada in connection with the Pickford divorce case. Judge Langnii, who granted Mary Pickford a divorce, has demanded a special investigation of the affair by the Attorney General of California.

A Baptist Minister married Fairbanks and Pickford. The' press and others denounced the divorce and marriage. It was alleged to ihc partly for advertising.

AFRICAN POLITICS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.l, CAPETOWN' April 7,

Nationalist sources assert General Smuts approached Nationalists, Unionists and Labourites with a proposal to form a Best Man Government. Nationalists are willing to co-operate provided the Ministerialist did not oppose the Republican movement. Smuts declined these terms. Labourites declined to co-operate with Smuts. LONDON, April 6. The Anglo-Australian shipowners are conferring shortly with a view to determining the amount of the f,either increases in freights and faros. LONDON, April 6. Lord Invorforth has extended the period for lighting Imperial-owned wool by one month. He insists the whole must be shipped before the end

of October. NEW YORK, April 6. The -steamer Minnehaha has arrived from London with seventeen tons of gold bullion, consigned to a New York firm. LONDON, April 6. The King will be represented at Anzae Da v memorial service.

SHIPPING MISHAP. LONDON, April 6. The Ormondes damaged her port propeller in the Suez Canal and' is proceeding to Colombo at reduced speed.

TROUBLE IN ITALY. ROME, April 6. Strikers at San Mateo, near Bologna surrounded some carbineers, who then fired forty shots into the crowd, killing eight, including a strike leader, and wounding twenty. The affray may have far-reaching consequences, as the General Confederation of Labour has called an emergency meeting with a view to taking, united action.

the german menace. LONDON, April 0. French occupation of Frankfurt and Darmstadt is regarded with apprehension in the highest British circles. One leading British diplomatist states that France’s action will probably crystallise the warring elements in Germany and create the most serious menace to France since tho Armistice. Lord Derby conferred with Lord Curzon and left for Paris.