BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1922, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] WIATCH JAPAN. NEW YORK, March 7. The Wireless Dress (Service telegraphed to its reporter on board the liner “America” while at sea, instructing him to interview Mr Hall Skel•toh, one of the delegates of New Zealand to the recent Irish r ace Convention. Mr Hall Skelton said: —Japan must be watched closely, or she would evade the terms of the Washington agreement and would build a navy to attack America. He declared that' if Japan did attack, she would be supported by China and by India, while Britain would support the United States.

U.S.A. MINERS. NEW YORK, March 8. Following a- country-wide miners’ ballot, the vote is in favour of a general, coal strike on April 1. Consequently President Harding has instructed the Secretary of Labour to insist on the miners and the owners holding a na tional conference with the object of averting a national menace.

MOVIE MURDER. NEW YORK, March 7

The police believe that a letter confessing to the murder of Taylor received on Saturday, is in the handwriting ot Sands, the missing .butler. Tile writer described himself as the avenging husband, and states that he shot Taylor because the latter had an affair with the writer’s wife, and then scorned her.

OLD AGE PENSIONS. LONDON, March 7. In the House of Commons Mr Hilton Young, replying to questions, said that the British Government would not undertake to introduce legislation providing, reciprocally, that residence in any part bf thb Empire Should go towards the qualification for the old agje pensions.

MT. EVEREST EXPEDITION. DELHi, March 7

General Bruce, nephew of Captain Bruce, has arrived at Darjeeling to complete arrangements for the forthcoming Mt Everest expedition. It is understood that in the event of a failure, another attempt will be made next year. Specially picked Coolies are being assembled for the conveyance of specially picked food and other impediments to the. various bases, and to the advanced base at a height of 23,000 feet.

A party of expert Swiss mountaineers will later join the exp/bdition, provided with oxygen apparatus for use in the rarefied air in the upper regions of th<* mountains.

All details are being carefully arranged from experience gained on the last expedition.

FAKED TELEGRAMS,

PEEL’S TRIAL OPENED.

LONDON, March 7. Tlie trial has opened at the Old Bailey of Captain Owert Peel, and his wife (cabled Feb. 15).

Peel pleaded guilty and his wife not guilty. ' • Mr Justice Darling refused Peel bail but released bis wife on her own recognisances. The hearing was adjourned. LONDON, March 7. The trial of the Heels at the Old Bailey produced a dramatic surprise. The husband’s plea of guilty astonished a great array of fashionable people present. The wife firmly pleaded not guilty and an argument followed as to whether the wife could be tried, because it must be presumed that she acted under her husband’s influence. Justice Darling declared that the wife must be tried and adjourned the case until 9th inst.

TENNIS PLAYER DEAD. Received This Day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, March 8. Obituary.—Laurentz, the tennis player. LAURENTZ’S DEATH. ’Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) PARIS, March 8. Laurentz’s death was due to influenaa. '

APPEAL COURT DECISION. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. The Appeal Court dismissed the appeal against Justice Bailhache’s decision in the case of the Peninsular and Oriental Company versus Commonwealth shipping representatives, in re sinking of the steamer Geelong. The "master of the Rolls, in delivering judgment, said the Court held that the Bonvilston, which collided with the Geelong in January 1916, was engaged in a warlike operation in connection w r ithj the* evacuation of Gallipoli, and therefore the sinking was owing to a war risk, not to a marine risk. Justice Warrington and Scrutton concurred.

ANARCHY IN CRIMEA. (Received This Day at 9.5 a.m.) HELSINGFORS, Mar. 8 The newspapers state owing to the famine, anarchy has broken out in several divisions of Crimea. Mobs of hunger stricken peasants at Sebastopol, Theodocia and Kertch wrecked the houses, shops and public buildings and seized food. ■' »

NEW MOTOR SHIP (Received This Day at 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 8 The Union Steamship Company’s seven thousand ton motor ship Hauraki has undergone a satisfactory trial on the Clyde The speed is nearly thirteen knots It is expected the oil consumption at full speed, when fully loaded, will not exceed sixteen tons daily.

THE INDEMNITY. PARIS, March 8. The Allied Reparations Commission report up to December 31 last, states that Germany had paid the Allies on account of reparation 6487 millions of gold marks, exclusive of machinery and cattle, which had been restored. “Le Temps” comments that if th e payments made for the cost of the armies of occupation be included, the German payments in cash and kind and! cession of State property total 1140 million gold marks.