MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1924, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION NEW CM. UR CM SERVICED LONDON, Eeb. 1 Rev Simeon Jones, .Minister of 11iylic;, Pavement Unitarian Church, Nottingham, is substituting Wagner’s opera for the orthodox evening service. He says religion is presented in too many narrow ways. “I want to enlist all that is best in music, poetry and literature in the service of God. Accordingly Tnnnhauser, Lovengrin, and Parsifal will be sung on successive Sundays without scenery, and instead of the lessons a libretto will be read.” Jones added, "The rightness or wrongness of the new system will depend upon whether the operas are performances or acts of worship.’’

RUSSIA AND BRITAIN. LONDON, Eeb. 1. Russia has informed Britain that immediately recognition is granted, Russia v. ill appoint a commission to examine all outstanding questions of debts, trade schemes, credits and relations with India and Afghanistan.

CURE FOR LEPROSY. LONDON, Eeb. 1. Sir Humphrey Rolleston addressing the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association, announced Sir Leonard Rogers’ researches bad led to the discovery of what bade fair to lie a real cure. Rogers explained be Irad established an important principle that by the injection of a soluble product of active portions of ebaulmoogrs oil, an old fndian remedy for leprosy, the bacillus of the disease could be destroyed within the body. Ibe Association is appealing lor a quarter of a million sterling for the care ol three hundred Hioiisand lepers within the Empire of whom only (ilteen thousand are now adequately eared lor.

A NEW PLANET. LONDON,' Eeb. I. Francisco P.K. 1923 is the name of the new planet disi-ovcred by the l Diversity of California. The distance from the earth is less than one-third that between lit;' earth and the sun. The planet travels round the sun once ill four years. THEFT OF JEWELLERY PARIS, Feh 1 Stephens, the ink manufacturer living in a West End flat, reported the loss of his wife’s jewellery valued at U 27.000 sterling. Before the investigations began a policeman arrested Jolm Oliver Stephens, the butler, helplessly drunk in another part. of London. Oliver was found to he in possession of part of the jewellery.

A NEW PROPOSAL. ["Tup. Times” Service:.] LONDON, Felt. 1. The "Times" advocates pensioning ex-Premiers, who should retain on retirement. the position of former proslige anil responsibilities. T 1 heir words and actions count in foreign countries ami tliev should not he able to plead poverty as art excuse for activities in dubious business or second rate journalism.

SPANISH AEAIRS

LISBON. Feb. 1. According t»- recent arrivals from Spain, strong rumours arc current in Madrid of dissentious ill the Directorate, owing to General Do Rivera s decision to carry out the death sentences passed on Generals Berenguor and Navarro. in connection with the disaster in Morocco in 1921, whicli.it is stated, may necessitate the intervention ol the King, and may cause the down la 11 of the present Government. H is declared that General Do Rivera is weary of bis self-imposed task'. and would welcome an opportunity to retire. The King will probably ask General AYeyler to form a temporary Government. Widespread dissatislaction is said to exist, at the methods of the- 'Directorate. The cost of living is increasing and ihe question is being asked as to when reforms are going to begin. Signs of tlisafloction ate said to he apparent in tlm army. LONDON, Felt. 2 The "Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent, in confirming the reports that General De Rivera’s regime is ending in Spain, narrates that General De Rivera recently presented to King Alfonso a long list of distinguished persons whom lie desired to have banished, and he requested His Majesty's consent. King Altonso perused the list pensively, and remarked : “There is one name missing which I will add!” After writing tills name. King Alfonso returned the document upon which General De Rivera was amazed to find the name inscribed was “Alfonso.” A pause ensued then. General Do Rivera slowly tore up the document and bowed himself out.

KUDOS FOR THOMAS CAPETOWN, F'eli. 1

Replying to a message from. Rt. Hon ,T. H. Thomas (Colonial Secretary) to the Governor-General of South Africa, assuring the former’s desire to preserve and strengthen the system of consultation between the several governments, General Smuts lias replied “From your patriotic, determined action in the past I am convinced the interests of the British Commonwealth are in good hands, and f slut!! do my utmost to you sn anv way that lies in my power.”

TRIBUTE TO NAVY. LONDON. Feb. 1

Colonel Amery. in a farewell message to the Navy, expresses his admiration for its “splendid keenness, discipline, efficiency, and my sincere *ood wishes for the future of the great service with which T shall always bo proud to have been associated.”

OIL SCANDAL. ■WASHINGTON. February 1. The country is aghast at the disclosure of the oil interests' ramifications a s revealed by the Senate Committee, belore whom testimony has been adduced declaring that the oil resolve lessors have retained Mr McAdoo as counsel since 1020, paying him fees totalling 2d0.000 dollars. A witness further'stated that three of Me.Vdoo's colleagues in the late Wilson Cabinet were similarly retained, one of whom is Mr Gregory, whom President Coolrlge chose to assist- in the prosecution of (> ii ]oa<e cases, as cabled on January ‘29 th. Resident Cool id go. upon learning this, immediately issued a statement, withdrawing Mr Gregory’s appointment as Government counsel. To-day’s testimony has utterly nest rovedMr McAdoo’s hope of getting tl.e Presidential nomination for 1924. The House of 'Representatives meanwhile has passed Senator Walsh’s resolution.

MURDER TRIAL. LONDON, February 2. A woman’s piercing screech from the ceils below startled a crowd assembled mi Keyttisbam Police Court to hear the seqttel to tile discovery of a man s body under the floor of his house at Brislington, when George Cooper, aged ,2i. and his mother, aged 57, were charged jointly with murdering George William Cooper about the Gth. of Scptemper last. As a sobbing dishevelled woman entered the dock, she cried: “Have mercy on me! Oh God, have mercy on me!” Women in the back of tlte Court began to weep. When the son v as led into the dock, he rushed and embraced his mother, saying: “Cheer up mother! Don't cry!”

A most poignant see no was witnessed at the end of the hearing, when the woman was remanded to Cardiff pri>■lll, anti the son was ordered to appear at the inquest on Saturday. The mother cried out: “Oh, my boy. lot me hear it. with him! 11 was all my Fit tilt!”

The police evidence showed that when the son was charged at the polite .station, he said: “I did it. paitly in my own defence, because I believed m\ lather would have killed me.”

Tf is stated Hint Cooper killed his lather v.ith an. axe. and his defence will he self defence under provocation. The dead man. George Cooper, was ovei (10 years of age. and tuts a patternmaker. lie lived in a villa, where the mother and son were arrested. The police found the hotly. The mother is charged as accessory to the murder. BODY COVERED WITH LIME. PARIS, Fob. 1.

Cooper’s body was- buried five feet below the Untiring in the hack sitting mom. It was covered with lime and tar. No clothes except the trousers, ami tfie head was swathed iu sacking.

ACCUSED’S STATEMENT. LONDON. February 2

According to his .son's statement the cause of the quarrel was his father s insistence on the right to bring other women to the house anil threats of what he would do to his mother when s !|., icturued home. The son alleged iTel when playing the piano after the quarrel, he stye, through a mirror, his hs! her approaching, with it hatchet iu hi, ha nil. A struggle ensued wherein the father was killed.

LNODON, February 2. The Prince of AT tiles, Mr Ramsay MacDonald t.Prime Ministre). and Mr ,f, 11. Thomas (Chief Secretary lor the Colonies) were amongst the distinguished guests attending the Pilgrim’s Dinner, presided over by Lord Desborougb, in honour of the new American Ambassador, Mr Frank Ivellog, and the newly-appointed British Ambassador to Washington. Fir E. 11oward. His Majesty the King sent a message acknowledging greetings and expressing the hope that the gathering would form another happy link between the two great English-speaking peoples. l!l lion. .Mr Ramsay MacDonald, in proposing the toast iu honour of Mr Kellog. declared that the whole nation ttits standing with hated breath, awaiting further news of ex- President Wilson. Tile relations between America ami Britain were never better. He proved llult they tuny long continue -o. America and Britain wanted no alliance ami no documents. They were prepared to stand side by side, not in a political alliance, but in human fellowship to help each other to advance' the cause of humanity Incidentally, lie declared: "'[lie (unction and dignity of our Ambassadors arc worthily represented by His Royal Highness. (Prolonged choorsL) Mr Kellog, in the course of his response, sitii! that lie believed one of the greatest services the United States ami the British Empire could perlorm for 'the world was to set an example of fair, broadminded statesmanship in international dealings, and to maintain the sacred ness and inviolability of treaties. He would do everything possible to maintain the closest friendship between the two nations.