BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ROUND THE WORLD. LONDON, Jan 19. Arrangements for Ross Smith’s flight round the world are progressing. A special amphibious flying boat is being constructed at Vickers’ sheds, Brookland, similar to th e Viking machines which travelled from the Seine V the Thames. Smith will (follow th« coast for the greater part of the journey, and will alight on the water where necessary. The chief land stretch en route is planned across Canada.

BALANCE OF SEXES. LONDON, Jati 18. Professor 'Julian Huxley, of New College, Oxford University discussed the sex question before the Royal Society of Arts. He dealt with the scientific progress made in the determina* tion of sex. Professor Huxley referred to there being an ultimate possibility of altering the sex balance in man, besides animals. Regarding domestic animals, he declared that, it should prove possible, during the next 50 years, to separate the different sorts of spermatozoa in the laboratory, then resort to artificial fertilisation, and So secure offspring of the desired sex. INFLUENZA AT HOME. LONDON, Jan. 19. There are no fewer than eight thousand influenza cases in the single mining district of Balina, in Monmouthshire, out of sixteen thousand inhabitants. , ‘ There has been a number of deaths, mostly children, and in many houses every inmate has been stricken, the cases being of the severest type. ENVER PASHA CAPTURED. CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan 19. Enver Pasha, the Turkish politician, has been captured in the Caucasus. He will be handed over to the Kemalists. UNEMPLOYED ACTION. (Received This Day at 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Jan 19. After holding a meeting at* Rotunda Concert Hall, Dublin, 129 unemployed remained in possession all night and formed a volunteer army. They posted sentries, refusing to budge until the Lord Mayor provided accommodation elsewhere.

PRINCESS MARY. DATE OF WEDDING. ' LONDON, Jan. 18. The date of the marriage of Princess Mary is still undecided. The marriage lias been arranged to take place at Westminster Abbey. Two thousand guests have been invited. FRENCH GENERAL. (Received. This Day at 9.40 a.m.) PARIS, Jan 19. General Petain was appointed Generalissimo in wartime, and InspectorGeneral in peace time. FRENCH CABINET. (Received This Dav at 1.5 p.m.) PARIS, Jail. 19. The Chamber carried a vote of confidence in M. Poincaire by 472 to 107. JAPAN’S FEAR. (Received This Day at 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 19 The special representative at Washington says it is stated any reference to the capital ship ratio will he omitted from the final draft of the naval treaty, owing to the .sensitiveness of Japanese, who declare it would give them an air of inferiority.

PRINCE AT MYSORE. (Received This Dav at 12.25 p.m.) DELHI, Jan. 19. The Prince’s reception in the capital of Mysoie was characterised by the usual lavish display and ceremonial. Large native crowds lined the streets along the gaily decorated route and heartily welcomed the Royal visitor. There were no indications of any attempt to boycott the visit. Various impressive ceremonial functions were followed. Arrangements were made for the Prince to witness the final act of the capture of a troop of wilu' elephants which the natives started driving in from the borders of Maplah country, nearly a month ago. The Prince starts on Saturday on a three days’ big game hunt in Ivarrapur district.

SOUTH ISLAND SANATORIUM. WELLINGTON, Jan. 18. It was stated by the Minister of Public Health to-day that the proposal to , establish a third sanatorium in the South Island had fallen through, as a result of the apathy of the fifteen ( smaller hospital boards in the island. There had been a proposal, he said, to purchase Dr Byre’s institution at Wai- j ( piata, Central Otago, at a cost, inclod- | big necessary extensions, of £IO,OOO. I The hospital boards of the South Island ! with the exception of two, the Otago ; and North Canterbury, were to find j half that amount, and the Government ■ the remainder. A circular had been •. sent to the fifteen other boards, asking j them to contribute their quota of the i £SOOO, on the basis of the relative eapi- j tal value of each district. ”1 am soiry to say,” continued the Minister, “that only three of the fifteen boards have expressed themselves as favourable to the proposition. Some of tlie others , have turned a deaf ear and practically | decided not to do anything, while j others don’t display much enthusiasm, j' That is is the position at the present j time.’ According to the Act of 1909, con- | tinued Mr Parr, these hoards were j hound to contribute towards tlie estan- j lishment of a sanatorium. The Govern- j ment, even at this time, was prepared j to find £SOOO. He hoped that during j the recess an opinion would be obtained > from the objecting boards on tlicir attitude. Mr Malcolm: Is it proposed to place the sanatorium under Government control solely? Mr Parr: Yes.