BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1922, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION!

AIINING LAMP DEVICE. LONDON, April 20

The Home Office is testing a -lcv.ee jfon attachment to miners’' electric hand lamps which registers the amount of firedamp present and sounds a Doll immediately the amount is dangevo is. It is claimed the device will renue. .. caol mine explosion impossible.

RUSH OF MONEY. LONDON, April 20

A crowd waited for hours for the opening of the City of \\ ellington debenture issue and attempted to force the Bank doors. An ugly situation was threatened till the police restored order The crowd complained that only those inside were able to secure the prospectuses.

HON W. CHURCHILL HAS A FALL. LONDON, April 20. Hon W. Churchill, riding at Eaton Hall, Chester, had a bad fall and was much shaken. It is hoped be will recover in a few clays.

GERMAN FINANCE. BERLIN, April 20 Herr Wirth’s financial reform scheme in an amended form will become law. A permanent property tax and forced loan amounting to a thousand million gold marks, takes the place of the proposed non-recurring tax on wealth and increments. The property tax exempts the first hundred thousand marks. Jewellery and objects of art are taxable thereunder. The tax on dividends is increased by ten per cent.

EXPLOSION DISASTER

HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST

BELGRADE, April 20. At Monastir, in Serbia, a huge explosion in a munition dump caused enormous damage. It is feared .300 or 400 casualties may result. ATHENS, April 20. It is reported that, following on the explosion of a munition dump at Monastir ,fires started at several points in the town. The inhabitants took panic, and fled to the woods. ’Hie entire town is now endangered. It is stated that 30.000 people are now homeless.

The scene of the disaster is now unapproachable, owing to the explosions continuing. The explosions have involved 400 wagon loads of munitions.

JAPANESE BUDGET. TOKIO. April 20. The Japanese Diet has voted the Budget, appropriating 741.000.000 dollars. The repeal of the ban on women participating in political movements has also beeil passed. The Diet lias also enacted the first prohibition law in the history of Japan. prohibiting the* sale of intoxicating liquor to minors. A violator of this prohibition will be fined five dollars. Slio Nemoto, a W.C.T.U. worker, has introduced the same Bill every session since 1890. DRURY LANE ’THEATRE. LONDON. April 21. Drury Lane Theatre lias been reopened, after £150,000 has been spent on rebuilding, with a Florentine spectacle entitled “Deecnmeron Nights.” Princess Alary and Viscount Laseelles were there was a brilliant audience.