BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

10STP.AL1AN ANB N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. GERMAN EXPERIMENTS. “ 3 EOR INCREASING GROWTH.’ (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, July 18. The “Westminster Gazette’s” Berlin correspondent states German scientists arc working on the problem of making two blades of grass grow instead of one, by the application of carbonic acid gas. Experiments are turning ground blast furnaces into glass houses. . and sown fields are so successful that special nurseries w'ere established in connection with Hugo Stinnes smelting works at Hirst, Plant substance -is increased by gas from fifty to three hnndre per cent. Gases from eleven hundred tons of coke are sufficient to produce four thousand tons of edible plant matter, but as a vast equipment of distributing tubes is necessary the experimenters see an immediate practical use only in fertilizing certain roots and high value food plants in small areas.

HAWKER’S FUNERAL

(Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, July 18

Harry Hawker, the aviator, was buried at Hook churchyard, near his home. Crowds attended, as if he were a national hero.

HOLLAND vTp PARTICIPATE. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, July 18. , The “Telegraf” states it is certain that Holland will be invited to attend the Washington Conference regarding the Pacific.

A DENIAL. ! Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, July 19

Guest, Keen and Nettlefords, Ltd., inform the Australian Press that there is no truth whatever in the steel rail contract report cabled on the 11th. They admit, though it appeared in practically the whole of the London Press that they had hitherto not contradicted the report, and were still considering the question of issuing a press denial.

AIR UXDER-SECRETARY. (Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, July 19 Lord GorreTl. succeeds the Marquis of Londonderry as Under-secret ary of the Air Ministry.