MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1923, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION, BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. LONDON, Sep. 2. Government lias notified tho British representatives at -Moscow that it had withdrawn its objection to Rakovsky’s appointment as head of the Russian trade delegation in London. AN ELOPMENT. LONDON, Sep 2. The Earl of Craven and Countess Cathcart (cabled on 7th January, 1922) eloped to South Africa aboard the Balmoral Castle. Their departure was kept a close secret, and it was only known to tho families. The Countess stated they were going to stay on the Earl of Craven’s estate, at Hermanns, and would return to England in 1924. OLD MAN’S FEAT. LONDON,- Sep. 2. The “ Daily Express ” Constantinople correspondent says the British Consul-General, who is aged over sixty, swam across tho Dardanelles from Akhash to a point north of Nagara, 1V miles, breaking the Army record In twenty minutes.

FOR. THE EXPORT OF WHEAT. COPENHAGEN, Sep. 2. A Russian co-operative organisation is establishing a base at Rcvnl for the export of wheat to Scandinavia, and an English organisation has leased a huge elevator for a decade, and a building with a storehouse capacity of 2fi0,000 tons. IRAK REVIEW. LONDON, Sept. 2. Percy Cox in reviewing the condition of Irak for the eighteen months to (March, 1923, says that the period opened with strife and uncertainty and the partial break down of the administration, instituted during military occupation. and closes with a National Gorernmont under an Arab constitutional King, chosen by a referendum of the people. King Foisul is steadily consolidating tho position and is in the people’s confidence. Mr Cox points out that Irak offers immense possibilities for the cultivation of cotton, but progress will be slow. Flax growing is increasingly attracting cultivators’ attention. MANDATES COMMISSION.

LONDON, Sept. 2. The Permainent (Mandates’ Commission reports to tho Council on the Administration of Nauru, and expresses satisfaction that the documents submitted to it enables it more completely to appreciate tho general system of administration than last year, ami desires information regarding power and functions of two officers who sit with the Administration in the Appeal Court., also if tho right is exercised in the case of ignorant natives, whether capital or other severe sentences have been confirmed by the higher authority. The Commission will ho glad to know what steps were taken to acquaint persons concerned with the provisions ot contract Labour, particularly whether the text of tho ordinance had been 'communicated to them in their respective languages; also whether tlio authorities utiliso the service of the Hong Kong Government or other agency in China to recruit' Chinese workers, and whether a Chinese speaking official at Nauru is responsible to tho Administrator. It considers the natives were heavily taxed. The Commission hopes the next report will state the amount received in capitation tax. The report of the permanent mandates Commission on Western Samoa re-nets Mandatory’s report tor the year ending 31st March, 1923 was received too late for consideration. It hopes tho Mandatory will address future reports direct to the Council oi the League and requests full infoimation concerning the relations between the administration and native luithoii itiu., and notes with satisfaction that Lahou* was protected similarly to New Zealand and also the progress of education. It desires to know whereto the revenue is paid in respect of leases of native holdings.

A RECORD TTTAW. CHRISTIANIA, Kept. 1. \ Norwegian captain, Wicklor Arncsen, who has just returned from the Arctic, claims that he discovered an island 12 miles in circumference near Franz Joseph Island, in, latitude 8()M0 previously hidden by an tcebeig between 7(1 and 80ft high, which has melted, showing the lexceptionel nature of the recent thawing in the Arctic.

(MR GARVIN’S VIEWS. LONDON. Sept. 2. Mr Garvin- in the “Observer'’ says the decision rests at Rome and nowhere else. It does not, and will not lie at Geneva. There, as yet, is no true foa-oie of Nations. There is only a si-stem devoid of full moral sanction, ar.l therefore of all effectual authority. Half a League, which does not include America, Russia and Germany is not nnlv practically hut spiritually impotent for all the larger purposes, concorning the preservation of gene ••! nonce. The next step lies with jj„i. Our hope was he would iatse Italy to a pinnacle, our fear is he max dash her to the ground.

j h. THOMAS AGAINST ITALY.

LONDON, Sept. 2.

Mr J. H. Thomas, speaking to some railwavmen at Plymouth, said: “lliere is a crisis in Europe. The war drums are already heating. Before there could be an investigation into the murder of the Italian officials, the head of the Faseisti Government has issued an ultimatum, which it is almost impossible for Greece to accept, and lie hurled it in such a way that Greece had immediately to accept, or humiliate herself. Then warships started operations. If a war takes place, it will not be between Greece and Italy alone. hut all Europe will he involved.” He asked was the League of Nations to he outside the pale of consideration in this matter? He said the situation in Germany was also desperate.

STEAMER FOUNDERS. AMSTERDAM, Sept 2. Tho German steamer Kloeppel, hound from Hull to Brcmerlmven, foundered in a gale in the North Sea. the captain being the only one out of a crew of fortv-two saved. He floated on a piece of wreckage Tor six hours when a Dutch trawler picked him up. HUGE TIDAL WAVE FEARED. LONDON, Sept. 2. The New York correspondent of the “Daily Chronicle” says: The Hawaiian Islands are preparing for a great tidal wave, which, it- is apprehended, will sweep across tho Pacific Ocean.' (A few days ago volcanic action, was intensified in the Hawaiian Islands).

SPANISH CRISTS. MADRID, Sept. 2. The Spanish Cabinet has resigned, owing to three ot the Ministers opposing the establishment of a lino of defence at A.lelilla some way beyond the present positions of the troops. The retiring (Ministers complained tho scheme was too costly. The Premier proposes to reconstruct the Cabinet, replacing tho three Ministers with others in favour of a forward policy. The Minister of Finance, who resigned, said ho did not want to bo lynched by a revolting population. The other two Ministers reported that tlie Finance Minister’s resignation would incite the people to lynch them, as they would be held responsible for the Morroccan war. The situation is becoming chaotic. MORTALITY IN INDIA. DELHI, Sept. 2. It is estimated that one hundred deaths have occurred as the result of a recent, widespread flood in the province of Bisliar. Great damage was done to property. EI iEGTJUCAT. FIXAXC’E. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 3. The annual accounts of tlie Municipal Electricity Department were presented to the City Council to-night. The profit for the year on the trading account was £253, and on the electricity working aeeoun £18,990, making a total of £10.249. which added to sinking fund accretions of £3520, makes a total of £22,767, available for distribution. Of this total the sum of £9149 is applied partly to the cost of tho Waimakariri scheme, and to the sinking fund accretions transferred to the general reserve; and the balance of £13,620 is transferred to the general reserve, which now stands at £58,070 which amount is altogether apart from the special reserves provided for depreciation renewals.

FOUND DROWNED. WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. While fishing alongside the boating shed, some hoys discovered the body of a man floating in the water. It wa? identified as that of William Raymond, aged 51, who had been missing for a month. Deceased formerly was working at Palmerston, and had been ill for some. time. His brother was called upon to identify the body, but failed to do so. A number of workmen, who had been employed with tlie deceased, declared it to he Raymond’s' body. THE ELECTIONS. LONDON, Sept. 2. An official statement issued in Dublin declares that the Free State is a massed treaty for which seventy-three per cent, of a million votes polled were cast. The provincial Irregular leaders obtained only sixty-three thousand votes while the Ministers responsible for the Government for the last year polled 131,000. The Republican weekly the “Siuu Fein” declares that the election is beneath contempt. Tt accuses the Government, inter alia, of raiding the election rooms, arresting electors and firing on election meetings. There is talk of the Republicans reconsidering their decision not to take seats in tho Bail, though it is not explained how they will sit without taking the oath. It is pointed out that if the Republicotis are able to take their seats they and the Labourites would form a formidable opposition.