MISCELLANEOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1922, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION wool AYJCH ARSENAL LONDON, July IG. Woolwich arsenal has ceased for short time, by which workers lost one week in three. Men are also replacing women. GERMAN FAILURE TO FAY. TARIS, July 10. An .official German note announces the cessation of payment of pre-war commercial debts, and compensation respecting war time seizure of private property. Neither class of payment comes under the jurisdiction of the Reparations Commission, but are administered by a special clearing office which agreed to the German monthly payment of two millions. The arrears of liabilities to France alone are eighteen million sterling. Germany requests a reduction of instalments to half a million francs. The press is agitated at this development and insists on noncompliance of the request without the strictest scrutiny.

BISMARK’S TOMB. BERLIN, July 10. Bismnrk’s tomb at Sliornhausen has been desecrated.

BLAKE’S FLY

LONDON, July Iff

Blake on Sunday telegraphed from Basra:—We had an enthusiastic welcome here, but- tlie journey from Bagdad itself was uneventful. Dust storms sometimes, rose seven thousand feet,, and the conditions wer c very bumping. We were caught by ascending currents and the aeroplane suddenly lifted a thousand feet. The boat was intense and the special chocolate molted and flowed over our kit. The Royal Air Force provided an escorting aeroplane from Bagdad, which is fitted with wireless. To-morrow we leave for Bushire. Naval authorities are keeping a lookout for us along the Persian Gulf.

JEWEL BOBBERY

LONDON, July 10.

Another daring jewel robbery of ton thousand pounds worth of gems is reported. They were stolen from the Hotel Cecil. While a Greek merchant named Goupoules was enjoying an after lunch cigar on the lounge with a looked case beside linn his attention was diverted for a moment, and the ease was stolen. The alarm was immediately raised hut the thief escaped. Tt is apparently the work of a gang who have lveen operating in London for several iveeks. THIEVES SENTENCED. PARIS, July 10. Three thieves have been sentenced to eight, seven and five years for stealing a diamond necklace worth sixteen thousand sterling. Countess Bernice met a well-dressed youth who offered the Countess and women friends a drive in his motor car. During the trip three men produced revolvers and forced the (Countess to take, off her necklace. She and her friend were put off flic car oil a lonely road. When the robbers sold the necklace it was recovered.

PROPOSED RAILWAY. WELLINGTON, July 17. A royal commission, which has been hearing evidence re the construction of a Government railway from Rotorua to Taupn, is now sitting at Wellington. One of the witnesses, H. J*. Knutson, of the Government Railway Department, giving evidence as to the value of timber in the district, said it would not surprise him to hear one owner had paid £sOll for his hush. Counsel said that the owner was now asking £170,500 for it, within 18 months of acquiring it. Witness said lie thought that price was reasonable. Mr Dnlzieil. Chairman of the Taupo Timber Co.v., said his Company had never made any losses, but it had not been able to set aside a sinking fund. They were satisfied they would get their money hack, and six per cent, hut they wanted the Government to do tcrminc its future policy, so that they might know where they were. There was no suggestion that the Government should buy then' railway line, and they were not asking for any concessions, or help. If the line was to be temporary, they must limit carriage for settlers to those tilings they could conveniently carry with present rolling stock.

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE. WELLINGTON July 17. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr Newton, hoard to-day the proceedings in an industrial dispute between the wholesale merchants in Wellington and the Employees’s Union. The main point of the discussion was the holding of a Dominion Conference before the Conciliation Council. Both parties were agreed in the opinion that such a conference was desirable and it will be held in Wellington on July 27. Each side will he presented by about nine delegates. CHRISTCHURCH, July 17. The shearers’ dispute was before the Conciliation Council to-day. The claims of the employers and the counter claims of the Union were discussed seriatim. Though .an agreement was reached ori many of the minor clauses, the principal demands including wages, were referred to tkc Arbitration Court. DUNEDTN, July 17. With regard to the position at tliQ Burnside, and Balclutlia freezing works, there has been no move on the lines of that reported from Christchurch. “We hear on all sides that the men are anxious to return,” stated the manager of tlie Burnside Works, “but there is evidently some strong influence restraining them.”

The output is being well maintained at the local works, and nt"tho present rate, it will only take a few weeks to clear up all the stocks suitable for freezing in the district.