MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1923, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FATAL FIRES. LONDON. Dee. 24. There were six fire tragedies during the week-end. A boy was fatally burned in Drury Street. Glasgow. During the height of Christmas shopping the owner of an office suddenly found the place to he on fire. He shouted to two hoys itt a room above to slide down the lift wire and then dash to safety. Apparently the hoys did not hear him and later, a hoy named Stewart was seen silhouetted against tlie glare of the- burning room. He cried: “Get Johnnie first.” "While the firemen

wciv ]>vt pun 11 Li a tire escape .Stewarl leaped into the coais which the firemen field and was seriously hurt, hul Johnnie was hurned to death. Tlie damage is estimated at .t'dU.tHJO. A I'm ini 1 v of seven at Aheravon had a remarkahle escape, all leaping front the upper story of a building in their nightclothes. Lastly four women, between 70 and SO years of nee, were burnt to death in various fires in London. One woman lost her life in attempting to rescue it grandchild, aged three months, whose cradle was on fire. ! FATM OF Hit; AIRSHIP. PARIS, Dee. 27. Some anxiety is lelL as to the fate of the big Frenelt dirigible Dixmude, with a crew of -10, which leit the Otters aerodrome on Thursday on a 72 hours’ Lest cruise over Algeria, ami subsequently was ordered hv the Ministry of Marine not to return to France owing to the strong wind off the const of Algeria. Tlie Ministry lias now received a wireless message that the airship was over the Gulf de Gabes, Tunis, appealing for help. Three vessels were dispatched to the spot. A military wireless station at, Gabes at nightfall indicated that the Dixmude was then near Medettitie, a place where site could land. The T)ixmudc is the ex-Zeppelin 1.72 The cruiser Mullmiise and other vessels have proceeded to the Gulf do Gabes to render assistance. Later advices show that the Dixmude seems to have disappeared, and messages from Tunis state that the airship is no longer in sight from the landing ground at Medenine, near the Gulf do Giifiea. \o replies have boon obtained from the airship’s wireless plant and no flares have been seen. It is foil red that the airship may he out of control as the Commander yesterday signalled that petrol was running out and several of the crew were ill. Another report says that the airship is damaged and is drifting seaward in ti violent gale. .1A RANKS F. AFFAIRS. TDK 10, Dee. 2d. Raren Den has resigned from the Cabinet, holding himself responsible for lhe failure of the Government’s Insuranceßill. . ... . Dr oka.no will combine the portfolios of Agiieulture avd Commerce with that of education.

The amended Reconstruction Budget uits passed by the Upper House The extraordinary session will close on Afonday and tlie regular session will open on Tuesday. FT RE IN JA RAN. TOKTO, Dee. 2.7. A fire broke out in the Oriental Hotel. Kobe, shortly alter midnight and destroyed half the building. The dartmge is estimated at .‘100.(100 yen. CATTLE DISEASE. CAPETOWN, Doe. 27. It is officially announced that, owing to foot and mouth disease, the importation of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs from Great Hritaiu ami Ireland has been prohibited until further notice. MURDER. TRIAL. z PARIS, Dee. 27. The cause celebre, namely, the trial of the Anarchist girl, Mdlle Germaine Hcrthon, on a charge ot murdering Af. Plateau, a loader of the Royalist organisation, ended in the acquittal of the accused.

AFGHAN OUTLAWS. DELHI, Dec. 27. A movable column of Afghan troops is proceeding from Jalabad in the direction of Afandatar, where tint Afghan Governor is conferring with tribal heads as to the host way of dealing with the murder gang that is hiding in the neighbourhood.

AIR .MASSEY. NEW YORK, Dec. 21. Mr Massey has arrived here. ITc has quite recovered from his recent cold. His itinerary encompasses a short speaking tour of .Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa, where he will he lormallv received by the Government. He will sail from Vancouver on January 4. Air Alassey informed the Australian Press Association, concerning the New Zealand loan, that he had definitely arranged the details. "New Zealand is it vigorous young country and naturally requires capital for full industrial realisation.” the Prime Minister added, “hut our si rot:,*' financial position relieves us oi any concern regarding such a loan. If the loan is made it will he floated in London rather than in New York.” The New Zonlaiul representative c*xpressed reluctance to continent mi the results of.the Imperial Conference, especially in view of the Hritish doclions, which, necessarily, have complicated tlie attitude of the Hritish Parliament. However, he is inclined to admit frankly that the situation is such that he desires to keep an open mind rather than predict certain specific results of the Conference. He added : "1 am hopeful that the Hritish Parliament will act favourably on the Conference's recommendations, hut it is in the lap of the Gods.” Air Alassey. commenting oil preference matters, declared that New Zealand was in an exceptionally favourable position since its preferential arrangements -with the dominions had been long operative, and. hence, there was no uncertainty on that score.

INTERESTING DISCOVERIES LONDON, Dec. 24

Professor R. A. S. Alacahster, correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” at explorations at Jerusalem, reports that the excavations at Mount Ophel have revealed the site of the castle of Zion, which is the City of David, and also the wall of rough hewn stone of immense strength from which the Jebusites taunted David.

Ancient pottery shows that the Jebusito city on the eastern hill, si that the claim of the western hill to bo Zion disappears for ever. The position of Alillo and tlie wall which King David built around Alillo are clearly defined. Alillo was an ornamental portico, like the l’ropylaea in Athens, leading to the suburb whereon Solomon set his house and temple.

Professor Alacalister also found the wall which llezekiah added against Semiareherib, and the stairway to the ancient armoury mentioned in Xelieuiiah. chapter iii, v. If). The arc-haelogical evidence almost uncannily accords with the Bible narrative. The fortress fills a breach in the wall as was expected and .-hows signs of later repair under stress of iinti 011 wall built inward from the towlion wall built inward from the tow-

Thero was no conspicuous fortification earlier than the times of Solomon. which also is in accordance- with the Bible story. The site of the excavation has now been recovered with earth as the Arabs would otherwise have sold the masonry for a few pounds. There they will remain until civilisation teaches the fellah that there are pursuits more noble than money-grabbing. EAIP.IRE EXHIBITION LONDON, Dee. 27. The Board of Education has circuit ri.sed local education autlioritief h-awing attention to the Exhibition iy scholars under the guidance of oachers, and is at present considering lie question of recognising expendiure in that connection. IT is hoped that reduced charges for larties of scholars accompanied by oachers may he arranged. The board suggests the substitution I' an intensive course of study in the lisLory, geography and resumes of lie dominions and the British C'oinlonwealth for the usual lessons in hisoi'y and geography to be given to oldr children during the next two terms.

GREEK ROYALTIES. ARRIVAL IN BUCHAREST. BUCHAREST. December 23. The King and Queen of Greece have arrived. They were royally welcomed. FBENCH GOVERNMENT. IjONDON, December 21. Tiie Paris corres|Kiudent of the “Daily Express” says that M. Poincare is lighting hard to remain in office till the elections in April, but it is highly probable that the high cost of living will filing about the Government's fall prior

to that, time. The Chambei carried votes of confidence in AT. Poincare in the small hours ot to-day on the subject of civil servants’ bonuses but only after n. 10fiours’ struggle. In the meantime the cost of living is increasing and the franc :s falling. Af. Poincare will face his hardest- fight iu tlie Senate on Wednesday over the Senate’s proposed amendment to the present voting system.

FRENCH POLICY. PARIS. Dee. 24. Speaking at La Corucuve, AT. Poincare. after defending the occupation of the Ruhr, said that they had not yet reached the end ol the road, hut were approaching it every day. France would not abandon the cardinal principle of her policy She insisted on strict adherence to the Treaty of Versailles and would notagree to any further concession either as regards reparations or her security. This policy, the Premier added, befit ted not only the interests of Franco hut the intends of justice and peace. France ahliorcd the idea of aiiotho) war and her only ambition was the consolidation of peace.