BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1922, Page 1

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

IUBTHALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. BUILDING FOR ALLIES. BERLIN, Feb. 15. Newspapers report the Reparation Commission delegation are settling details ini connection with the building of merchantmen by Germany for the Allies under the Peace Treaty, which demands the construction of forty thousand tons yearly. INDIANS IN JAPAN. TOKTO, Feb. 15. The Indian colony at Kobe, after heated meetings decided to refuse to join with other British residents in welcoming the Prace of Wales. The resolution" states they are sympathising with their brethren in India. No Indian representative will serve on the committee. During the past few weeks local Indians have been bombarded by the Japanese and foreign press with antiBritish propaganda. A WEDDING DISASTER. BUDAPEST, Feb. 15. A wedding party of five carriages, riages, was crossing the frozen river the ice broke when half way across. All were plunged into the river and twentyfive were drowned.

A FATAL CRASH. MADRID, Feb. 15

An aeroplane with three British airmen aboard crashed at Guatrevents aerodrome and all were killed. honoring THE dead. MONTE VIDEO Feb. 15 The steamer Wmxlville baa sailed bearing Sfoackleton’s body. The oliips escorted the vessel to sea, firing a salute. REQUEST for information. WASHINGTON, Feb. 15. Senator Hitchcock has introduced a resolution requesting President Harding to send the Senate fuller information concerning negotiations resulting in the four power Pacific Treaty. A CORONER’S VERDICT. WASHINGTON, Feb. 15. A Coroner’s Jury found nine architects and engineers building inspectors, also those building responsible for the Knickerbocker theatre disaster on January 28th. They will be charged with involuntary manslaughter. The co - lapse was due to faulty design and construction. FRANCO-RUSSIAN agreement LONDON, Feb. 15. It is reported from Paris that France has concluded a provisional agreement with Russia. It is reported that under tins. France is recognising the Soviet .and that t le Soviet, in turn, acknowledges the Russian debt to France, totalling 20.000,000.000 gold francs. Russia further concedes to France her rights under Clause 116 of the Versailles Treaty, and is receiving, in compensation, German reparations in kind amounting to 800,000.000 gold francs. There is in Germany consternation over the Paris report that France has concluded the provisional agreement with Russia.

The paper “Loknl Anzeiger” says:— “Such an agreement would give France practically a world monopoly in the reconstruction of Russia, reducing Russia to a state of vassalage. ENGLISH beating case. SOCIETY PEOPLE INTERESTED. LONDON, February 15. The Peel betting case is the biggest racing sensation for a long time. The Court has been crowded with wellknown sporting and society people. Many fashionably dressed women stand throughout the sitting. Both the defendants are young, though self-pos-sessed, hiit the wife was pale, and sat with a bent head. The case depends on the following vital facts: The race was timed to start at 2.50 p.m. It was actually run at three o’clock. The prosecution allege that betting telegrams were handed into the Post Office after three.. ' the telcgramsc were actually timed 2.45. The proecution alleged that Mrs Peel arranged with Dow a young stockbroker friend to telephone her at a village post office. Dow accordingly booked a trunk call from the Tendon Club about 2.38. Dow in sensational evidence, rather favoured the prisoners. He said that when first he got on to the post office, Mrs Peel asked the name of the winner. Dow replied that the result had not yet appeared on the tape. Dow gave evidence that left the telephone box to find if the result were on the tape, but said he did not remember telling Mrs Peel the result of the race. On the contrary, he had later telegraphed the result and the price to Mrs Peel. CANADA AND A USTR A Id A. OTTAWA, Feb. 15. Senator Pearce interviewed the Premier, Mr Mackenzie King, and after an address before the Canadian Club, emphasising the need for closer relations between Canada and Australia, bad an informal conversation with Treasurer Fielding regarding trade reciprocity. A FATAL WEDDING. BUDA PEST, Feh. 15. A wedding party,' comprising five carriages, was rossing the frozen river Theiss, when the ice broke. The carriages were only half way across. All of them were plunged into the river and 25 persons were drowned.