MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1923, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. CROOKS SENTENCED. PARIS, July 10. The trial of the international gang of crooks, comprising Australians (cabled on June 2fit!i) has concluded. Sir AA’alter Coekcrline, a Hull shipowner, was awarded an order for the restoration of 1,800,000 francs against 'War?" ecu, being the amount of which lie had been defrauded. Edward Lewis, another member, was also sentenced in absentia, to five years’ imprisonment. COLONEL BELCHER'S SALARY LONDON. July D. Air Buckley, in the House of Commons. answering a question regarding the cost of Colonel Belcher’s visit to New Zealand in connection with tho British Empire Kxhibtion, said Colonel Belcher had a salary of £I7OO a. year, plus oil entertainment allowance £BOO. He understood that an expenditure of £IOS was incurred by Colonel Belcher’s mission, consisting of four persons, during their sLay in Now ZeaIa ml from July 3rd to August- 29th. The visit formed part of a tour of all tlie Dominions. It was difficult, there fore, to estimate what proportion of tho cost of the mission’s overseas transport should be allocated to tho New Zealand visit. COMMUNISTS AND EASCISTI. ROAIE. July 9. - Fighting has broken out at Florence between Fascist i and Communists. r - Tlierc have been two hundred arrests. The Fusei-ti are now patrolling the streets. The Communists are showing a renewal of militancy. ENGLISH DOCK STRIKE. LONDON, July 10. At a meeting la,sting five hours the dockers’ unofficial Stril-e Committee adopted a resolution asking tlu? union officials to negotiate with the employers for tt lesiimption of work, and sug-

casting that the employers waive tho latest Is wages cut, seeing that Parliament itself declares that the cost of living basis is wrong. It is pointed out that this interppatation of Parliament’s opinion is opeiD--' to question. Earlier in the day, tlie annual conference of the transport workers adopted ft resolution urging tho dockers to return to work, so ns to maintain their organised strength, and to enable their grievances to be dealt with unitedly.

CLA RK E SENTENCED. LONDON, July 9. The man, John Clarke, charged an June 29th .with representing himself as a lawyer in charge of a large legacy from a Xew Zealand relative for Mrs Hill, of London, has been sentenced to five years for fraudulently obtaining money from Mrs Hill. COMMITTEE IMPRESSED. I.OXDOX, duly 9. Mr Frederick Sharp, solicitor, late of Wellington, Xew Zealand, giving expert evidence before a Joint- Committee of the Houses of Lords and Commons on the (iuardianship of Infants Bill, explained tno Xew Zealand laws for the safeguarding of infants. The committee were obviously impressed by the Xew Zealand precedents. SHAKESPEARE’S FIRST FOLIO. I.OXDOX, July 9. The British Museum has acquired a line copy of Shakespeare’s first folio for £13,500, most- of which was contributed by an anonymous donor. WOOL SALES POSTPONED.

LONDON, July 9. Owing to the dockers’ .stiike, tho wool sales here were postponed till July 17th. RECORD TRAIN SPEED. I.OXDOX. July 10. Tho Great Western express is inaugurating :m accelerated service. It travelled from Swindon to Paddington. 7T\- tidies in 72 minutes, ft attained a speed of 83 miles an hour between Swindon and Didc-ot, a record for the British Isles and probably the world. DOCKER’S STRIKE. (Received this dav at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 10. Th- dockers’ unofficial strike committee decided to send > deputation to the trai sport workers’ eonle.vnee today, to ask the union to regotiate with employers for a resumption ut the old rates. BRIGADIER DROWNED.

LONDON, July 10. Brigadier-General Riekardo, while inspecting a reservoir at Strabano, belonging to a company in which lie was interested, fell in, and was drowned. SHIPBUILDING. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 10. “Lloyd’s Register,” quarterly shipbuilding returns, deducting 130,000 whereon work was suspended, states a total tonnage being constructed in Great Britain and Ireland is 1,208,000, which is 082,000 below the average year immediately pre-war. Tonnage building abroad is 1,200,000 whereof Germany and Danzig amounts to 352,000, Franco 171,000; Italy, 141,000; United States 131,000; Holland 100,000,