NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1924, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL.

I’I.OUGIILAXD DECLINE. LONDON, Jan. 5

Ploughland cultivation in ?Tt*glund ami Wales declined last year to practically pre-war conditions, according to "Agricultural Statistics, 1023,” issued yesterday by the Ministry of Agriculture. The total area under crops and permanent grass was 23, 1 4-1,000 acres, a decrease of 83,000 acres compared with 1022. In the live > ears 111 10-23 the average a lea under the plough was 11.1588.001) acres, hut last year tile total was only H,M1.000 acres. lhc main reduction took place in the corn crops, which occupied about 1,800,000 acres less than they did -10 years ago. The acreage of wheat u: 1928 was 1.7-10.000 acres, 227,000 acres below the 1022 acreage.

The number of agricultural worker? on June 4. 1923, was 772,01 KT, compared with 830,000 on the same date in 1022.

POLICEMAN IN CHIMNEY. LONDON, -Tan. 3.

The story of a policeman who entered a suspect’s house by the chimney in order to listen to a conversation ua- told at Kiltimagh, County Mayo, yesterday when .Tames Costelloe was charged with the murder of Thomas Cnmev, a larm labourer, who wn--hot dead at his own door on tile night of December 27. The oiilv clue the police had to work on was a footprint. They suspected Costelloe, anil Sergeant Feely went on Sunday night to the two-roomed cabin in which he lived with his wife and listened outside.

TTc could not hoar very clearly, so he climbed on in the thatched roof and entered the house by the livingroom chimney, whili, as is usually the case in West of Ireland cabins, was only a. hole in the roof over a large open fireplace. He remained in the house for an hour and overheard a conversation which led to Costelloe’s arrest. The man was remanded.

A DAZZLING SIC 1 IT. TRLIKRAN, Jan. J. The Persian Government has derided to sell a part of the Crown jewels and other precious articles to raise money lor the construction of railways. Persia badly needs railways. But if tlic-e are. as good ns the jewels for which they are to he exchanged, then indeed they will he magnificent. For the Persian royal treasury contains among others : Daryn-i-Noor .Ocean of Right), one id' the world’s famous diamonds, weighing Is(> carats. , “Alountain of Light diamond, weighing 130 carats. Largest turquoise in the world. Golden globe of the world, 20in. in diameter, in which emeralds are inlaid for the seas and other precious stones for the countries. Glass ease. 2ft long, and 11!ft high and wide, half full of pearls of all sizes. Kaianian Crown, surmounted by a ruby as large as a hen’s egg. Kaianian Belt, a foot deep and one mass of pearls, diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. Costume covered with pearls. Trays heaped high with pearls and sapphires. l.amb-kin caps ornamented with priceless aigrettes of diamonds. Gorgeous jewelled carpets. Diamond-studded epaulettes. According to Bishop, the troveller, who saw this dazzling sight, the royal treasure-chamber is strewn with a lavish profusion of precious stones of overv description, of shields, scabbards, and sword-hilts blazing with diamonds, vessels of gold, ruby-stud-ded armour, priceless chains and enamels and crowns. "I counted.” he says, “nearlv 100 emeralds, from half an' inch to 1:1 inches long and an inch broad; and in one scabbard, covered with diamonds, there was not a stone smaller than my little finger nail.” The value of this treasure is inestimable. Years ago it was calculated at £7.000.000. hut it must he far more than that now.