MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1923, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIA7ION. BRITAIN PREPARING. SUVA, Dec. IT. Doctor Norwood, pastor of the City Temple, declared in a sermon that tie; Woolwich Arsenal was working overtime on the manufacture of millions of gas masks which would be issued to every person in the danger zone of aitraids if Britain was again involved in a war. Dr Norwood stated: “My information is reliable and the statement is made with the object of ing how false is the sentimentality all - * think and talk concerning the League of Nations. I don't blame the authorities who are making preparations for hostilities if they come again. They will he so sudden that it will bo too late then to prepare safeguards.” JOURNALISTS HONOR AIR MASSEY. LONDON. Dee. 10.

The District Institute of Journalists was largely attended for the annual dinner. The Institute passed a resolution expressing the regret of members and guests at Afr Afassey’s inability to he present and sent him respectful and cordial greetings, offered sincere good wishes for his health and a long continuance of his great services to New Zealand and the Empire and the world. AIR MASSEY’S SPEECH. LONDON, Dec. 16. * The "Daily Chronicle,” which previously severely criticised Air Massey’s references to Imperial preferences in his speeches prior to the elections, in a leader says liis speech at Wolverhampton, which was on similar lines, was very acceptable and made one feel the great advantage it is for political heads. LONDON, Dec, 16 Whitaker’s Almanack for 1924 contains a special two-page article on Yew Zealand by Mr Alassey. AIR MASSEY RECOVERED. LONDON. Dee. Id. Air Alassey has quite recovered front the severe cold contracted last week at Rochampton. NEW ZEALANDER’S SUCCESS. LONDON. Dee. 16. Aliss Stella Murray, the New Zealand contralto, was among the contributors of a notable programme and scored an enthusiastic encore. CROSS-COUNTRY RACE. London, Dec. via In tl.,- Inter-Varsity eross-couutrv seven and a-half miles race, Oxford _• iwenty-lwo j’omts, heat Cain'iralgvt thirty-three. RUSSIAN TRADE. . LONDON, Dec. 16. The "Daily Telegraphs” political correspondent states: —There is a Soviet Trade Delegation tit England actively preparing for tlie movement, which it considers imminent, when a Labour Government will put Russia on an equal footing with all- civilised countries. Numerous meetings at which prominent English Socialists have attended have been held, with the object of creating a Polo-Russian en- ** tente.

A .MOVING MOUNTAIN. GENEVA, December 17. The mountain of i’rizzokel, which dominates the town cf Coire. has begun to move, and threatens to overwhelm several villages in the vicinity. Landslides have occurred at several points and large crevasses have appeared. It is believed that the movement is due io the source of Lake Brambusch changing its position. STOCK DISEASE. LONDON, December 16. The “Daily Express” says:—Belief is gaining ground that the germs of foot and month disease were imported into the United Kingdom ill fodder from Germany. There is reason to think the Board of Agriculture is investigating along these lines. It is pointed out that thousands of tons of fodder were imported from Holland, and the Board of Agriculture officials know of eases in which Dutch dealers •supplemented their supplies front Germany. Al IS(TIIEYOUS INF[.FENCES. LONDON, Dee. 14. General Booth, in his annual report on the Salvation Army, says:—“lt is impossible to imagine the moral discipline and mischievous influence over all alike which springs from the unemployment dole. For once we see how a remedy may he far worse than a disease.” THE SINGAPORE PROJECT. SPECULATION BY JAPAN. (Received this day at 9.25 a.i11.) LONDON, December 17. The “Observer’s” diplomatic correspondent .says that the cancellation of the Karl of ('avail's tour, has been dictated hy a domestic crisis and does not alFect. the Singapore base, which Parliament approved of. and which the Admiralty is carrying out, though it is probable a new Government, will scrap the project. .Meanwhile the policy hits oreali'il an unfortunate feeling in Japan, the press unanimously pointing out that it is i egret table that after twenty years of loyal alliance that Bri- f tain should have based routine plans, even i n tlie theoretical assumption of an Anglo-Japaneso war, protesting that the Singapore project falsified the hope of a reduction in armaments based oil the Washington Conference which is the only consideration that is reconciling Japan to the loss of the British alliance, declaring that the Singapore scheme is causing Japan to speculate whether Hie should not take up wliat is regarded a.s Britain’s challenge, leading n> renewed armaments competition. The correspondent adds that the Singapore scheme also has had an unfortunate effect, sin Imperial harmony. Canada condemned the Anglo-Jnpane.se Alliance because it conflicted with Aoglo-Arnei'i. an friendship; Australia favoured it because it preserved a proved friend and ■ limiiiated a tnisundcistanding: the Washington Treaty all'pi'iled a solumy dilemma: hut the r Singnj ore project re-started the vicious . circle of disagreement. Australia clinging to the scheme a.s a logical alternate- to an Atiglo-Japanese Alliance.

CO MR F. NS A TION AAV ARDS. A I’CK LAND, December 17. In compensation claims before the Arbitration Conit. Justice Fraser awarded iW'lliain Burke £4OO against the Nobel Explosives Ltd., in respect of the ! loss of his son, Henry John Burke, who was second officer of the schooner Hum. Agues Annie Wilson, widow. was awarded £750 against the Union Steam-, ship Co., for the death of her son, Robert C'owie AVikson, seaman on the steamer Kauri, who died from injuries caused by failing against a batch at New. castle. The sum of £SO already paid L ir.epnlotl lij. iltii Will'd;