LATEST CABLE NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1924, Page 3

LATEST CABLE NEWS

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

—•— AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIJVION, DEI KRMINED Sl'lClDK. PARIS, January MO. A young electikian. alter .shooting iiis wife dead, was so determined to commit suicide that be lirst .shot himself in tin* chest, inllietiiig a luoital wound, he then cut his throat with n razor and finally hanged himsell. He had previously attempted suicide by throwing himself under a motor ear.

SING A PORE BASE. IA!I’OHTAXT ALTERATIONS. 'Received this day at 8.50 a.m.A LONDON. January Mo. The ‘‘Daily News” understands Cabinet bad Under icvicw nine and a half millions sterling for the Singapore l,n-e. which the late Government approved. Important modifieat ions may now lie announced. It is understood the Admiralty while insisting on the need of providing at Singapore a modern dockyard in thr> interests of Imperial defence, is not wedded obslinately to the oiiginal plans which envisaged a huge graving dock capable of accommodating simultaneously two super dreadnoughts. The excavation and building of sin ii a gieat dock would account for a large percentage of the estimated outlay. There are two alternatives, both involving considerably loss expense, and there is reason to believe tbe Admiralty void,', adopt one or other of these, instead of picssing for completion of the original .scheme. The first alternative is to enlarge the existing dry dock at Singapore, which is able to take vessels; 850 feel in length. ninety-two beam and thirty-two draught. If lengthened by 25 feet and widened 17 ami deepened 15. then it would lo large enough to take any vessel built oi likely to be built, including the Ilum! and two battleships. The second, and cheaper ami more practicable alternative would be to send to Singapore one of the two ex-Ger-man monster (looting docks. The largest ol' these lias ht-eii repaired and lengthened at Chatham ami will now accommodate the largest British warship. The taking of such a mammoth stricture eight thousand miles on a sea journey to Singapore is a difficult and hazardous undertaking, but big docks have been towed a.s great a distance without, misadventure. .Moreover the dock mold pass through Suez. Canal. Dredging would tie necessary at Singapore, in order to berth the dock, lull the cost super-added to lowing charges, would be insignificant compared with the building of a new dry dock on the spot. From tbe naval viewpoint, there is little to (boose between dry and lloatir.g docks, which are equally ellieienl. but the floating have the additional advantage of mobility. A further reason in favour of sending the ex-Ger-man dock is that it would be available immediately, while a graving (lock would take years to complete. It is probable therefore, that the Singapore scheme will be modified, making a .substantial saving of public money. The Admiralty nevertheless intends to press for tile completion, of new Siie.uipme workshops, naval magazines ami oil tanks, without which the eastern b.".-e is unable to piovide for the it■■ i ll i:■ I menls of the battle Heel,

REMARKABLE WILL ROWER. LONDON, Jan. Ml;. The “Daily .Mail” stales that the will to live was strikingly illnsi rated by a patient in the Charing l loss Hospital. who. six weeks age. -a- admitted suffering from a niu.ligmiur growth. The patient learned that to- end was near, the doctor's estmmte 'tie-mi ten days. Nevertheless lie cabled hi- soli, who was living in Aitsralin. lie kept a map at bis bedside and daily traced the proTve- .el the steamer hrim.oe : he. :,on | !u, patient died an after hr- w."'. arrival.

A DARING ROBBER\ LONDON. Jan. MO

Two daring thieves, with a hammer. smashed, a window at Ogdens in Duke Street, before closing time. They snatched eight thousand sterling worth of jewellery, crammed it into their pockets, mounted bicycles ami escaped despite an exciting chase in which hundreds of West Fmlers participated.

AIF.XIC'O AND Hit IT AIX ■ LONDON. -lan. 30. The “Times understands that the Afcxiean Alinister to Sedan. Senor Nieto, who at present is in London, lias been charged hv President O'Bergtm with tin* mission ol obtaining, it possible. British recognition of his Government. Nieto has been instructed to urge that following the example of tl„. F„iled States, all Governments who broke off relations with Mexico have resumed them but Britain. Nieto bus already visited I lie Foreign Office, and there is reason to believe that the British Government has declared iG readiness to resume negotiations at the point where they were broken off by Mexico last year; namely, the preliminary establishment of commissions to investigate and adjudicate upon the claim of Britons who suffered loss or damage by .Mexican revolutions ami other causes. . The Afexiean contention is that British recognition of the O’Bregou Government would give the uiM blow to tbe Huerta movement which is already greatly weakened, and establishing the President more firmly than ever in power.

PETTY OFFICEII KILLED

COI.OAHiO. Jan. 30

\ tragedy marred the Meet festivities at" Trincomali. A motor bus. carrying two officers and thirty men to Kandv. capsized a mile from Dambulla.'and Betty Officer Wood was kil - 0(1 and seven were slightly injured. Tbe bodv was conveyed to Kandy lor interment and all the injured were attended to at the Dambulh. Hospital.

LENIN’S SI'CCESSOIi. MOSCOW. Jail. -J

Bykoif, who lias admitted the failure of Communism :m<l who advocate t n restoration of business relations with other nations, is the likeliest successor to Lenin.

DRESS DESIGNS. LONDON, Jan. 30

Paris and London designers IniiC a'TCOil that skirts must he shorter, some barely reaching the knees ami having a slightly hobble ellevt. 11 ■" is probable the first occasion Hia fashion has bowed before obstinacy. Fvciiino dresses remain long. "fBENCH iMiOPOSAI,. LONDON. Jan. 30

The French Government .proposed to Britain questions relating to t a maintenauee of public order, and securitv of occupation troops in tin Palatinate, which will be submitted to tlu* Ambassadors’ Conference. ho French Government also favours the reinstatement of German officials whom the Separatists. expelled, gium acquiesced m this.