BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

iUSTKALUN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOLi—rION BIG FIRE DAMAGE. LONDON, Jan. 5. The Hartlepool fire is still ■ blazing after twenty hours. Timber yards two miles long are involved. A terrace ol twenty-eight houses was reduced to empty - shells. Houses in six streets are wholly or partly destroyed. Fully seven hundred are homeless. Fortunately, the tenants had timely warning, and hurried away the furniture in all sorts of vehicles. The firemen’s efforts were unable to chock the fire, but succeeded in preventing it reaching West Hartlepool, which at one time was threatened. The damage is estimated at fully a million. There have been no casualties.

HARTLEPOOL FURL. LONDON, Jan. 5. The Hartlepool fire was caused by the fusing of an electric w'ire. It continues to spread. Three hundred thousand sleepers belonging to the North-eastern railway were destroyed. Hope of coping with the flames last night disappeared with the ignition of two tanks of creosote in the path of the fire: The firemen are frantically working to Save the big Creosote works which will afford great new hold if involved. So far an area of eighty acres is burned over. AFRICAN STRIKE. CAPETOWN, Jan. 5. It is anticiuated a ballot of Unionists will result heavily in favour of a general strike. The police are being drafted to the ®oal strike area from all parts of South Africa. COAL STRIKE. CAPETOWN, January 5. General Smuts is intervening in coal strike endeavouring to secure a reopening of negotiations with a view to submitting the dispute to arbitration. The men insist that the Chamber of mines must withdraw all ultimatums. Government are enforcing the mining regulations consequently work in all mines was brought to a standtill. The railway men decided not to handle black coal except on the main lines. MEAT IMPORTERS. I LONDON, Jan. 5. The Council of the Incorporated Society of Meat Importers have cabled Mr Massey a resolution expressing the opinion that any compulsory scheme of meat pooling by New Zealand, involving participation of Government nominees, will cripple private enterprise and initiative, and give the Now Zealand meat trade the most serious blow it suffered since its inception, and will inevitably encourage the development of trade from other sources of supply, which enjoy freedom of trade.

The Australian Press Association learns the Council lias evidence that South American traders recognise the advantage they will receive and have already made plans to utilise it.

JOCKEY KILLED. LONDON, Jan 5. tV. Smith, the steeplechase jockey, and winner of the Grand National in 1914 was killed through a fall from Sir : c at the Gatwiek meeting. SHELL EXPLODES. KILLS FOURTEEN PEOPLE. ATHENS, Jan 6. The explosion a shell aboard the Greek destroyer Leon killed fourteen and injured 20 men. BRITISH POLITICS. . LONDON, Jan 6. ‘ According to the “Daily Chronicle” Mr Austen Chamberlain is supporting Sir George Youngers (Unionist Party) Manager) objections to a general election, but Lord Birkenhead and! Sir R. Horne are .in favour of an election. Many business men oppose an election but others say that, if it must come soon, then the quicker it is held the better. RELEASED. NEW YORK, Jan. 6. The Secretary for Labour, Mr Davis, acted promptly in releasing the Boyd children (whose case was cabled on the fifth of January) on the ground that they are students, having studied in England.

METAL MARKET. LONDON, Jan. 5. Copper is quoted £66 Is 3d to £66 18s 9d; lead £24 7s 6d; spelter £27 to £l7'7s 6d; tin £167 13s 9d to £169 13s 9d. Silver is 34) pence per ounce. SUPREME COUNCIL RESOLVE. deceived This Dav at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6 Tlie Supreme Council agreed to Hon Lloyd George’s motion inviting Germany and Russia to attend the Live Power Economic Conference. NOTED JAP’S DEATH. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) TOKIO, Jan. 5. Obituary.—Ex-Premier Okumn. ROOT RESOLUTIONS. WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. At to-day’s conference the first and second Root Resolutions were unanimously adopted, incorporating Mr Balfour’s amendment.