BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

CABLE NEWS.

—— BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS.ASSN., COPYRIGHT, SLEEPING SICKNESS.

(Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 2. There, have been twenty-one cases of sleeping sickness, and encephalitis lethargica in a week in London. NEGOTIATIONS "BROKEN OFF. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 2. Polish-Lithuanian negotiations for a settlement of the Vilna question have been broken off, owing to Lithuanians repudiation of their willingness to agree to the taking of a plebiscite in regard to Vilnz. The reason assigned is the continuj'ed presence of Zeligowski s troops at Vilna, which it is feared would unfavourably affect the voting.

COMMONWEALTH FINANCE,

(Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 3

Mr Millen and Hon A. Chamberlain have signed the financial agreement. It is officially explained that it provides for finding ninety-two millions, including 49 millions of cash advances by the Imperial Government to the Commonwealth, for war expenditure; 35 millions paid by the Imperial Government for maintenance of Australians on service ; eight millions for ministry of shipping, admiralty charges,' transport and other services. The Commonwealth has contracted to provide an annual payment, including interest and sinking fund, averaging six per cent of the whole indebtedness. TRAIN DISASTER ENQUIRY. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, February 3. At an inquest an Abe r mule railway disaster Ernest Rogers, a seventeen years old porter at Abermule station ■gave evidence that he released the tablet permitting the express to enter the single line on the section Newtown to Abermule without informing the station master, who directly afterwards started a slow train from Abermule towards Newtown by unwittingly handing back to .the driver the tablet the latter brought over from the preceding section, both failing to perceive the error.