BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAI’I1 —-I’IIESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. ATTEMPT TO SEIZE MOTOR, ! LONDON, Feb. 9. Three former Australian soldiers, Pereival Courtney, Frederick Wlison, and James Templeman, were charged at Bow street with having attempted to steal a Commonwealth car, valued at £7OO outside Australia House. It was alleged that they offered Harold Knight, the chaffetir £SO to facilitate the job, but he informed the police, and the three were arrested. 1 Courtney said that the incident was \ the outcome of talks with former soldiers frequenting the gratuity section, | who could not get their gratuities. Ho thought that driving about in a Government motor-car would arouse public excitement and bring forward the men’s grievances. The ease was I adjourned. : AUSTRALIAN GEMS. LONDON, Feb. 9. j Air Percy Marks, New South Wales Commissioner for Australian Gems has | presented a collection of opals and ! minerals to the museum of tho Jardin ! des Plantes, and also to some of the I principal towns of France. General Mangin thanked him on bei half of the Assembly of Professors. i : ! ' NEED OF AVIATION. “ THE TIMES ” SERVICE.

LONDON, Feb. 15. The “Times.” in a leader, emphasising the urgent need of an air policy, deploring the stagnation in civil aviation and contrasting the. activity of other nations, stresses the Dominions need of aerial transport for defence and internal communication. The Empire needs development more urgently than any other power. The “Times” sounds a warning respecting Germany’s feverish activity. She is spinning a net work of postal routes, and pilots are being trained to drop packets accurately. Such dexterity is Invaluable to a quick postal service and even more useful than merely loading bombs. The situation requires most careful watching. Aviation should he encouraged bv practical research. SYDNEY, Feb. 16. Arrived.—Melbourne and Trevalgan from New Zealand.

MINERS’ STRIKE OYER. reuter's telegrams. CAPETOWN, Pel). 15 Most of the mine strikers have resumed. A majority of the mines are working normally. It is estimated the miners lost thirty thousand in wages FRENCH BAND OF THIEVES. PARIS, Feb. 15. The police have unearthed a band engaged in pillaging British war stores. Goods valued at three .hundred' thousand francs wore- found in residences. Two of the band leaders were arrested at llazebrouck, alter a desperate struggle, during which a bandit wounded an inspector.

A SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY

PARIS, Feb. 15

The existence of a luminous zone or aura emanating from a human body, which Doctor Miner claims can he ren"dereil visible by means of a chemical substance, making the retina sensible to radiation, is regarded by French scientists as a most important discovery. Rene Soudre lecturing at the International Metaphysical Institute, declared that abundant proofs left hardly a doubt about the discovery. Berthoulat, a member of the Institute, was of opinion that the radiations "ere probably physical, like odours or phosphorescence of plants, and not metaphysical.

AMERICAN TARIFF CHANGE. WASHINGTON, February 15. The position of the tariff is becoming anomalous. The United States Senate has passed. an amendment putting an eight cent per lb. duty on butter; a duty of 12cents per dozen on eggs; and a 23 per cent ad vnlorum duty on cheese. The Opposition (Democrats) still expect to defeat this measure when it comes to a. vote. There is however, a rumour that 12 Democrats have agreed to join themselves to the Republicans in order to pass 'he Bill. Vet Senator Underwood lias declared that President Wilson will unquestionably veto this measure, even if it passes. The Republicans are not attempting to build up a sufficient majority to pass the Bill in the event of President* Wilson applying his veto. Owing to a failure to pass a closure motion, opposing Senators can talk tho measure to death. The session hn.s hardly more than 10 clays to go before tho Senate must adjourn sine die, so that the fate ol the measure is uncertain.

BRITISH AVIATION. LONDON, February .15. Since the opening of civil aviation in May, 1919, British aircraft have flown L 556,000 miles and carried 106712 passengers. There have been 40 accidents of which 20 involved injury to the personnel. The ratio of passengers killed was .10 per 1000. CORK'S MAYOR. WASHINGTON, February 15. The (VCallaghan case has been again brought actively under the notice of the V’nited Slates Secretary of State and the Secretary of Labour. His attorneys are memorising Mr Colby and President Wilson, and claiming the right of sanctuary of asylum in the United States.