MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1923, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ASTRONOMIC WONDER. (Received this dnv at 10 a.m.) PARIS, March l The sudden increase in brilliance ot the star Beta Ceti to seventeen times j it- usual extent was first found by Abbot, an English astronomer aged 10. who is employed in Athens Ovserva- | ti,ry. He immediately telegraphed the j new- to Flanimarion who checked tlie i observation and t hen published the j news. Astronomers are eagerly dist ussing the causes of the phenomenon | and are of opinion that ir a similar conflagration occurred in our solar system. the earth would lie reduced to a cinder in a short time, lhe cataclysm ) is pox-ibly due to falling stars or j satellites. This strange modification j of Beta in "The Whale" is exciting the j liveliest discussion. Urgent telegrams ' are being sent to observatories south of the equator to study the star. Historians of astronomy state in 12 1 before Christ, the star was of the third magnitude. In Anno Domini 1600, of the”serond magnitude, hut had dropped to the third by 17011. It then rose m.-ain. French astronomers attribute lhe present change to an explosion of hydrogen on a large scale or a. collision with a smaller star. AMERICA AND BRITAIN. DISPUTE OYER CONSUL. (Received this (lav at 3-30 n.-ii.t LONDON. March 1. j In conm-cthm with the expulsion of | American Consul- from Newcastle. Britain tin, I'urt her asked to submit e\ ideiico iii siippoi t ol the charge, but declined to do >" and withdrew the Consul’s oxequatins. Tlie State Depai t ineiil in view o! the serious charges made and (heir hearing upon the proper attitude of American consular service in relationship to American merchant marine, despatched • n iuvestiga- l l to England. who proved conoht- ;

-ively that the Consul- e-uihl not i'.i-t----lv b- held guilty. Tlie British Government meanwhile senl a not-' to I nite-l States suggesting the two governments -end identical instructions i--. tln-ir consul- regarding assisln me In he rendered to the merchant marine- "f the two countries and offering to amp its charge against Brooks and Slater without pro jodice, on ccnditn - i-’ut the Consulate at Newcastle he reopem-tl immediately.

United States declined to accept these proposals replying that the charges against the Consuls brought into question the good init h of the American foreign service. < nited States suggested Bril 'in should frankly withdrew the charge- p.ihlicly. United Slates suggested Britain should I rankly withdraw- the ehir-e p" 1 Rely. I nited States fiirtlrer prone.-'-'! a- alternative to reopen tlie eon-a laic 'I D'atain would restore the ex-jimlors of Slater and Brooks, making a public announcement of tlie reason tor this. United States pointed. out il wished to have the Newcastle incident settled (irst ami then would he glad to discuss with Britain tlie conclusion "I a - ousnlar convention. Britain (leelined to change the original position, reiterating that the inI iiniw I ion upon which she cited w:.-r accurate and adequate. United States in a last note handed to the British Government to-dav, declare- the Consulate v. ill not he reopened and orders have been issued to dl pose of the learn of the een-: hr picul i-es.