BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1923, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. AN EXCITING FIRE. (Received this day at 11.10 a.in.) I.ONDO.y, May 15. . An exciting lire occurred aboard tbe Runpheu, lying in a dry dock at Blackwall. Two thousand tons of ammonia in tho hold ignited. Firemen with gas masks succeeded in recovering two of the crew, lying unconscious, owing to inhaling the fumes. Meanwhile fifteen motor engines with oho hundred firemen arrived on the scene. ’I no fire burned furiously for four hours. Jhe Brigades prevented the vessel becoming entirely involved, after completely flooding the steamer. AFRICAN POLITICS. CAPETOWN, May 15 In the Assembly Mr Cresswell inov.’d an address to the King praying aim io refrain hereafter conferring any titles upon subjects domoeiled in. the Union. The Premier regarded the motion as a joke and did not see that it ne-'u make any. change. The motion travelled far beyond the feeling of the public. He said that in this country knighthoods had been conferred on many South Africans for distinguished service in scientific, civic, aud other walk < of life, and why should they not >o. Let them rejoice when someone received a richly deserved distinction. The motion was carried by 51 to 42.

CHINESE BANDITS’ THREAT. SHANGHAI, Alay 15

Father Lcnferu, tho priest who conferred with the bandit chieftain, has informed the American Consul at Linelieng that the foreign captives will 'ic killed to-night unless foreign diplomats guarantee that the Chinese Government will carry out the bandits’ terms.