BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1923, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ICEBERGS IN ATLANTIC. LONDON, Alay 21. 'Pile Atlantic liners continue to have startling adventures among the icebergs, which arc the worst ior twenty years. One of tlie icefields is twenty miles broad and six feet thick. The Canadian-Pacific steamer Minncdosa had to break a passage by charging at lull speed, and nosing her way through. An exceptionally mild winter in the Arctic is apparently causing the ice to break off early.

PRIZE FOR PERFECT BLISS. WON BY AN AI.P. LONDON, Alay 21. ATr Grover, a Commoner, won the Duninor Flitch prize for living with his wife in perfect bliss for twelve months. He is the first Commoner to win the proze. SILVER. SHIPPED. BEIRA, May 21. The silver was eventually shipped, the obstructionists withdrawing apparently satisfied with the success of the demonstration. MURDERERS OF AIRS ELLIS. DELHI. Alay 21. It is officially confirmed that the murderess of Airs Ellis fled to Afghanistan. The Government is taking strong measures for dealing with the tribes concerned in the outrage. I iftecn aeroplanes flew over Tirah compelling the frontier tribes to send representatives to a conference with the Chief Commissioner and poltical officers, and give an undertaking to keep the gang out of the territories and hand them over if caught, and destroy the settlements which .sheltered them.

TRAIN ACCIDENT. LISBON, May 21. Six were killed and thirty injured in the train accident on the Funicular railway. Braga, while descending Nit. Tomjesus. THE BRITISH EMPIRE. GENERAL SMUTS’ SPEECH. CAPETOWN, May 21. Premier Smuts, in a speech in the Assembly in reply to General Hertzog and Mr Mnlan, regarding Dominion status and the European situation, emphasised that he would at the Imperial Conference defend his position regarding the Dominion status and the position of South Africa in the British Empire. His conception of the British Empire was a grouping of free States, held together with common allegiance, on terms of freedom and equality, operating on a basis of consultation. That was the conception for which he [ought, and having achieved n largo measure of success, it would lie weak and foolish of him to go to London and surrender the position for which ho fought. Referring to the grave position in Europe, General Smuts declared that it was quite possible another great European calamity might arise. He urged in that connection the position of the British Empire must be defined. The crest European war was due to the fact that the position of some of the Great Powers was not clearly defined; the war might never have happened. Tiie British Empire as constituted to-day had a very powerful position in the world, which meant rosponsibilitv. South Africa did not want to participate in future wars in Europe. What South Africa should do v"us to use her influence no longer as a .subordinate country, but as one of the States of the great Commonwealth. However small they were, and whatever contribution they bad to make, tbev should make it in the direction of the’world’s peace.

R AILWAY FATALITIES. PARIS, May 22. There were two accidents at level crossings on Monday. The first was when a motor car at Amiens, containing four people, disregarding tho shouts of a party of boys perched on a railway bridge, attempted to cross the line in front of an express train which crashed into it, sweeping tho car along for a hundred yards. All the occupants were killed. The second accident occurred at Nice during a cycling race. Rolfo, a crack cyclist saw a level crossing gate about t ; dose but he sprinted and got through alone, out of 30 competitors. While he was crossing the line, however the chain of his ‘bicycle snapped and Rolfo fell. The train killed him. AUSTRALIANS IN SWEDEN. LONDON, May 21. The athletes Carr, Gale, Rowling and Macmillan, have arrived at Gothenburg from Australia to participate m tho Swedish games. They will now begin six week’s training.