BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAUI.K ASSOCIATION. exchange hates. LONDON, October 25. The exchange rate on Paris is ((noted at 01.07 francs to the £' sterling—the lowest on record. There has been a steady decline in value of the franc during the last few weeks. The par rate is 25.225. The quotations on August 20th.. 1021, was 47.65 francs to the £. and -on August 25tb., 1922. 58.05; on September 28th 1922, 57.95; on October 9th.. 58.40; and October 10th., 59.08 to the £. HALS. RALEIGH’S LOSS. LONDON, Oct. 20 A courtmartial at Portsmouth has found Commander Leslie Hott guilty of negligence in connection with the less of HALS. Raleigh, off the Coast of j Labrador on August 8. He has been j dismissed from the ship, and severely | reprimanded. |

ITALIAN CABINET RESIGNS. LONDON. Oct 2(5

A Rome telegram reports that the Cabinet lias resigned, owing to the Fascisti demands.

WIRELESS TESTS. LONDON. Oct 2(1. Tbo Pacific Cable Board has decided for a period of six or twelve months', to make wileless tests across the Pacific. with a view to lb" possibility m erecting a powerful wireless station, m lieu of the duplication of the cable from l"iji to Vancouver. The Board has also' decided to take up a considerable length of the shore end of the cable at Bnmfield, anil also the Banifiehl-Victoria cable, with a view to expediting transmission m aecoidauce with tbo requirements of Die traffic.

A blunder admitted. WASHINGTON. October 2(5

The U.S.A. Government lias ordered the release of the ship Emerald (cabled on October 19th), Mr Mellon declaring the seizure was a liluudei. All the Emerald's liquor will also lie returned intact. It is understood the American Government "ill send an apology.

A rBKMATVRE H KPOIIT. ROMP, October 20. It is repo: tod that the statement as to the Government’s resignation was premature. The Ministers are prepa'ed to resign. The Premier is considering the position and a decision v he given to-moirow. A PTRATrCAI ATTACK. SHIP takf.n and lost. 11 TTTK TIMES ” SERVICE C’eeeived this dnv at S.fr' l a.m.) LONDON. Octoher 26. A thrilling sea drama was enacted on the motor schooner Bertha, .which plies from Hamburg to Sweden. \\ lien lying at Cnxhaven awaiting the tide she was stormed hv four pirates from a boat. They scrambled aboard, shot and wounded the captuin and drove the crew into the hold, t'ok possession of the ship, locked the captain in t cabin and at the point of a revolver ordered one of the crew to navigate the vessel to Denmark. The Pirates then ransacked the ship, dressed themselves in seamen’s clothes, stole all the money and, valuables on the ship and voyaged all night long, but the steersman lost himself and instead of sailing to the north bo went west. Paybreak found the ship aground at the month of the .Pilule, where she sprang a leak and began to sink. The Captain broke out of the cabin, lowered a boat and released the crew. All then put elf leaving the pirates dinging to the masts as the llertha foundered.

The pirates, still above water, fired icvolvers at the boat which reached Vosslnpp lighthouse where the enpt'iin was doctored. Meanwhile a steamer sighted the Pirates and mistook them for shipwrecked mariners and rescued j them and as it passed the lighthouse i notified of the rescue. The keeper re- j plied telling the skipper lie had res- ; cued pirates. The keeper also warned | the naval authorities and a torpedoer j appeared and took the pirates prisoner [ and landed them at Wilhelmshavon I where infuriated seamen attempted to I lynch them. The privates were idea- ' tified as convicts who had escaped from I Hamburg gaol. A TINY REPUBLIC. {'Received this dav at B.AO a.rn.l LONDON. Oet. 27. On the summit of preeipitious cliffs at West Mayo, a little rebel republic, | boasting (100 soldiers, has been estnb- ; fished, known ns General Kilrny’s i western republic. The general recent-! lv drove out the Free Staters from N ovport, the capital of the Republic, • and since has been elected President. Subjugation will he lengthy and difficult. The only roads wind round the fiases of the cliffs where outposts and sentries are posted. The rebels are well armed and equipped. BRITAIN’S ARMY. ,'Rep‘dved this dav at 8..‘1(1 a.in.} ! LONDON, Oet. 27 I Britain’s territorial army now totals 135,000, whereof -10,000 were recruited , during the past twelve months. ; BEDS F.Y SIBERIA. 1 LONDON, Oet. 27 ! Advices from Vladivostock state the Red troops entered the town in perfect order and were sympathetically received bv the populace. I | CHEQUE BETTING CASE. (Received this dav at 8.,‘i0 n.m.) i LONDON, Oct. 27. j In a cheque hotting case, Justice .McCardie ruled that the recent Gainin'.! Amendment Act did not prevent actions taken prior to its passage being proceeded with. McCardic’s. decision differs from two judgments given to the contrary. Steps arc being taken to appeal against to-day’s decision. ’ A RACEHORSE SHOT. (iß'ooived this day at B.3f> a.rn.l LONDON, Oet. 27. The racehorse, Control, whose bad temper caused it to he lolt at the post in the Cambridgeshire Stakes, has been shot. The trainer persuaded Control’s weeping owner, tb.e_ Dowager Marchioness of Queensbury. that the horse had better he destroyed. Control cost a lot of money and developed a temper later.