MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1922, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

tWrUAMAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION LYNCH LAW. NEW YORK, May G. At Ivirvin, in the State of Texas three negroes were burned at the same stake, by a mob of 500 men, following on the negroes’ alleged implication in an assault on a young white girl. TOWN DESTROYED BY FLOODS. ROME, May G.

Owing to Hoods the town of Corato. of 45,000 inhabitants was almost des troyed. The damage is 200,000,000 lire The Chamber voted .9,000,000 lire for relief.

CAPE budget deficits. CAPETOWN, May 6. In the course of liis Budget speech, the Union. Minister for Finance, showed that the estimated expenditure was £28,2.30,000, a decrease of £1,500,000, as compared with the previous year. The accumulated deficit at the end of March, he said, was £1,250,000 which was a better result that had been anticipated. He proposed to carry the* deficit forward. A deficit for the new financial year was also anticipated. It was estimated at £BO,OOO. lie did not propose to interfere with the public service salaries, but a thorough reorganisation of the public service was necessary. The Government would increase the taxation as little as possible. Adjustments would be made in the tobacco and cigarette duties. Tin post office finances were improving. I this continues, one of the first measures would be a return to the penny postage. He intended to again impose the original duty of 25 per cent, on blankets, rugs and certain articles. The raw material for the Union industries would be placed on tile free Customs list. It was also intended to introduce a long overdue reform in the shape of uniform taxation in respect to estate duties, coupled with succession duties. The former would be ranging from 1 per cent tax on estates to £2OOO value to 10 per cent on estates worth £750,000. The succession duties would range from 2 per cent to 10 per cent according lo the degree of relations. The final estimates of the deficit would be £1 000.

CHINESE DICTATORSHIP. PEKIN, May G. Wu Pei Fu lias entered Pekin and lias visited President Hisusliilielmiig. and assured him that lie would not interlore with the Pekin Government. Cluing Tso l.in is fleeing to Man cliuria, being defeated. The Fangsteili troops are inarching on Tientsin. They are beyond control and arc binning, killing, and looting oil route. General \\ u Pci Fu lias announced a temporary dictatorship. lie intends to call a constitutional convention to permit the people to select a form of. government. lie has rejected a suggestion that ho shotioj offer peace to Chong Tso Lin, stating ;.c was determined to completely destroy Chang’s iHiiver. Wu Pci Fu did not attempt, lo triumphantly enter Pekin, or to assume control.

President Ilusliiheliang has issued a mandate dismissing the Piemier, Lion gshilivi, and ordering his arrest. He also has dismissed and ordered the arrest of tlie Finance Minister, Chnnglm, and the Minister of Communication Yelikungelio.

ENGINEERING LOCK-OUT. LONDON, May fi.

After some days’ inquiry into the engineering lock-out, Mr Maekenaic (president of the inquiry) announced that, in view of the obvious reluctance of the parties to summon witnesses, it would he lietter if they would see if they could not reach an aggreement ly a renewal of negotiations. The inquiry was adjourned, while the masters and men conferred. Finally, however, it was announced that the negotiations had broken, down. Mr Mackenzie will make a statement to-morrow. The Engineering Industrial Court has adjourned sine die. Mr Brownlie, on behalf of the men, condemned the employers for their Offer to work on individual contract, this method giving the employers unrestricted powers over the working conditions. He denounced this on the ground that it was an insidious attempt to sap the foundation of trade unionism. Sir Allan Smith, for the employers, contended the union executives male overtime a political issue. He feared that venom and vituperation “liowii during the hearing had damaged the cause of conciliation. BOOM IN WELSH COAL. LONDON, May fi The Welsh coal trade is now reported to ho enjoying a boom. The owners believe the trade will eventually surplus the pre-war high water mark. Preparations are afoot for the investment of many millions of new capital in the industry for the sinking of new pits, and for obtaining the latest electric>l and mechanical devices. TRUE SENTENCED FOR MURDER. LONDON, May fi. Reginald True, the airman, has been sentenced to death for murdering Miss Gertrude Gates on March fitli. The defence pleaded insanity. Justice McCardic carefully detailed the law in connection with insanity murder, saying that it required clearing up by the House of Lords. Several witnesses gave evidence that True was a drugtaker, and that lie had often boasted about committing a murder. - rue joked continually during the trial, and ho seemed quite unconcerned. When ho met Jacobs in the gaol yard, True stud, “Another to join the Murder Clubi”

SHIPYARD STRIKE ENDS. LONDON, May G. The shipyard strike has now been called off. r The men% executive considered that, though the) last ballot showed a majority ngaiffst accepting the maste *s offer, the majority was too small to justify a continuance of the strike.

CHARGED WITH MURDER. LONDON, May 6. Thomas Henry Allaway, aged about 30, wan arrested in Reading oil a charge of stealing a cheque book valued at two shillings. He lias now been charged with the murder of Miss A\ dkin (cabled <»> December 27th). Allaway appears at the Bournemouth Police Court on Monday. BLADE’S WORLD FLIGHT. LONDON, May G. Major Blake begins bis world flight on Empire VDny. GENER AL TOWNSEND. LONDON, May 6. General .Townsend has informed bis constituents that be will not seek reelection, as bo lias found that a soldier is not adapted to politics. OBITUARY. NEW YORK, May 6. Henry I*. Davidson died, following an operation for tlie removal of a. brain tumour. He was a partner of the late •T. P. Morgan. He headed the American Red Cross during tlie war.