MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1922, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

JEWEL ROBBERY. “THE TIMES” SERVICE. LONDON. April 5. The most daring jewel coup For years occurred at Easton, when thieves secured two cases of samples, vortli ,£.J0;000. A jeweller’s traveller deposited the cases ill a cloak room on Sunday, .ftvo similar cases were deposited shortly "afterwards, the contents being valueless. A man on the following day presented tlie receipts and obtained the jewels. The theft was discovered when tlie traveller presented the genuine receipts. It is suggested that during the night the intruder transposed the tickets on the pasted cases, but the numbers differed only as regards the final figures, facilitating forgery of the receipts.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. LONDON, April 5. Labour was heavily defeated at the elections for Boards of Guardians and district councils in the provinces, by the Conservatives and Liberals combining as an anti-waste party. In many cases not a single Labourite was returned, though the party contested all the seats. This was most noteworthy in Notts coalfields, Southampton and Newbiggen mining centre, Northumberland. Similar combination of Progressives, Independents, Municipal Reformers and anti-Labour candidates will fight the elections for twenty-nine Boards of Guardians in London on Wednesday.

THE SIBERIAN 'TROUBLE

TOTvIO, April 5

More desultory fighting is reported in Siberia, where the Reds at Spaslraya responded to the Japanese demand that they disarm, by opening fire. Other fighting is in progress along Ussuri railway, in which the Japanese are suffering little, tlie Reds being untrained recruits and poor shots. Tlie effect of the serious report appears to be the hastening of Dairen negotiations which are now reported to be reaching a conclusion. The Japanese filial note has been answered, which reply will he considered at to-morrow's session of the Advisory Council having received the Cabinet approval.

BRITAIN’S DEBTORS. LONDON, April 5. Britain has addressed a Note to Allied debtors, saying Britain has to pay interest on her debts to United States, following the lapse of the AngloAmerican Convention on loth May, and she reserves the right of calling on her debtors also to pay interest. FRANCE’S INTEREST DEBT. PARIS, April 5. Britain has informed France that the Franco-British three yearly convention, shortly expiring, under' which France pays no interest on her loans, will not he renewed. It is pointed out that France this year is liable to interest on a debt of twenty-five milliard francs at the present rate of exchange, consequent on a renewal of the Franco-British convention.

The “Echo de Paris” connects the matter with United States demanding interest on British loans, and says the French Government will have to take stock of the whole position before replying to the British note. The question of intei-Allied loans must he tackled comprehensively.

TRAIN HOLD-UP. PARIS, April 5. Thieves held up tlie Paris-Mediterran-ean mail train between Paris and Laroche and stole thirty mail bags froiTi England to Italy. MILITARY STORES EXPLODE. PARIS, April 5. Advices from Rabat, Morocco, say a violent explosion destroyed the artillery park at Ivenitra. Flames continue to spread to the neighbouring barracks. The inhabitants have fled.

A TEST CASE

LONDON, April 5

In a test case in the Chancery division, a trustee in bankruptcy sought to recover money which the bankrupt paid in cheques in respect of bets. Justice Astbury ' decided that the trustee in bankruptcy could not recover under the Gaming Act, money paid by a bankrupt prior to his bankruptcy. Leave to appeal was granted.

PETITION REFUSED. LONDON, April 5. Mr Shortt .has decided that Archdeacon Wakeford’s petition (cabled on March 29th) does not justify the reopening of the case. DANNUZIO’S NEW ROLE. ROME, April 5. A report from Milan states Dannuzio lias relinquished the leadership of the Fascisti and is now alleged to have gone over to the Socialists and accepted tlie leadership of the Federation numbering 60,000. MOTOR RECORD. NEW YORK, April 5 At Dayton Beach, Florida, Sig Haugdalil, of Norway, broke the world’s motor record for ten miles, covering the distance in minutes 50secs (?)• THE PRINCE’S TOUR. REUTER’S TELEORAMS. HONGKONG, April 6 The Prince of Wales has arrived, and was enthusiastically welcomed. Buildings and shipping were gaily decorated and illuminated. The Prince might stay two days and thence go to Yokohama escorted by the . British China squadron, and Japanese third cruiser squadron.

LABOR DISSENSION. LONDON, April 9. The breakaways by other unions front the Amalgamated Engineers in the lockout, is regarded as almost equally as important as the breaking up of the Triple Alliance. Labour circles condemn the isolation of the Amalgamated Engineers, which they attribute to Mr Lloyd George’s manoeuvres at the conferences.

Skilled engineers fear that when, wy>rk |ss resumed, semi-skilled men from other unions will displace the skilled engineers, thus making the ultimate reinstatement of the amalgamated men very difficult. The Rt. Hon Mr MacNamarn has announced in the House of Commons -that negotiations between /the employers and the other unions would commence on April 10th. The lockout would meanwhile be suspended. He said he did not think that a Court of Inquiry would be justified, in view of the resumption of negotiations being accepted by certain unions, the basis for which was one that implied the management’s right to give instructions (pending negotiations, except where modifications had mutually been agreed upon. Mr Hill, the secretary of the Boiler Makers ’Union, has advised the members of the union, which have agreed to negotiate and not to cease work, pointing out to them that any decisions reached in the negotiations will be submitted to a ballot of all affiliated trades.

DAMISH LOCKOUT SETTLED. COPENHAGEN. April 5. The lock-out here (cabled on February 12th) is on the way to being settled. Following on protracted negotiations. the employers and trade unionists have both accepted the Governmeint’s terms for ending the lockout.

GALLIPOLI LONDON. April 5. The Loudon “Morning Poet’s” ConIstaninople correspondent states: “In reference to the question of the Allied military occupation of Gallipoli, the opinion here favours the neutralising of the peninsula, and the creating of Turkish and Allied cemeteries under a British Graves Commission or under the League of Nations.

ARMSTRONG POISONING CASE

LONDON, April 6

A dramatic episode during the lieariig of the Armstrong poisoning case was the appearance of a “Mystery woman.” Her name was concealed.

The Judge said“No photos must be taken.”

In her evidence, she said that the prisoner had asked her on May 15th last to marry him, but they had never been engaged. She identified a packet of her own letters that had been found upon the prisoner Armstrong, when he was arrested. The defence announced that Armstrong would give evidence. LONDON WHEAT MARKET. LONDON, April 5. Wheat cargoes are being steadily held on to. There is a fair enquiry. An Australian (Belgrade) cargo is quoted at 55/4.V per quarter. The New River Gold Mining Coy., Inangahuu, report their gold returns for last month as follows:— Battery : 380 tons crushed for 300 ozs 14 dwts melted gold; Cyanide: 350 tons of sand treated for' 550/.s 3dwts bullion. Total estimated value £1340.