BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1924, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

EXPRESS AND GOODS COLLIDE. [Reuters Te/.eghams.] (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) PARIS, March 21. The International express from Ostend to Bale collided with a goods train at Bernsdorf at night time. Eight dead and ten injured have been reported so far. INDIANS IN AFRICA. (Received this dav at 11.45 a.m.) CAPETOWN, March 2-1. A considerable sensation was caused by the speeches of Mrs Naidu, the Indian poetess, which reached a climax when addressing an audience of eight or nine thousand, mainly Mohammedans wih a few Hindus and Sikhs. In Urdu language, Mrs Naidu referred to the fact that the Cape was exempted from the Class Areas Bill. Mrs Naidu warned General Smuts that by this he would not catch the Indian vote in the Cape. They would not accept no such bribe while their brethren in the Transvaal and Natal continued to bo oppressed. She also complained of the lack of educational facilities for Indians in South Africa, KILLED BY VOLCANIC ERUPTION. MANILA, .March 21. The delayed report from the Constabulary stated the inhabitants at Babuyan island, mostly fishermen, arc believed to have been killed by the volcanic eruption on March Ist. The island is at the northern extremity of Luzon and is sparsely inhabited.

TRAMP IN FRENCH FOREIGN OFFICE. (Received this dar at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, Miii-eh 24. The “Daily Express’s” Paris correspondent reports' that a tramp boldly entered the Foreign Office on two successive nights and slept in the sumptuous apartments being prepared for the visit of the King and Queen of Roumania. When the police discovered the mail he declared: “I am at Home,” and refused to budge out. pulling the blankets up to his neck. When taken to the police station lie said that nobody stopped him as he entered the apartments without in any way concealing his movements, but to .shelter from the rain. EXPLORATION IN HONDURAS. RUINS OF A GREAT CITY. Received this dav at 9 15 a.m.) LONDON, March 21. Mitchell Hedger, the explorer, has penetrated the interior of British Honduras and has ilisovorod the ruins of a gigantic city several square miles in extent, built by the Mayas, an extinct race, who onee dominated Central America. The ruins demonstrate particularly the Maya, practice of piling up huge masses of masonry, only one fortieth part of which is habitable. One pyramid was found to be three hundred feet high.

SHIPPING TRAGEDY

[Reuters 'J egegiia ms . ] (Received this day at 11.45 a.m.) LONDON March 24. Thu inaccessibility of the 1 hamessidc district, whole the steamers Matatua and American .Merchant collided. has greatly delayed the receipt of authentic infotillation. but it is now clear that the disaster led to eight ol the Matatun’s crew being killed outright ill their luniks, and three seriously crushed. They were sent to the hospital at Gravesend. The difficulty is to penetrate the bunks where the men were sleeping, and probably some days will elapse before the bodies dm be extricated. The Matatua has been brought on to Mucking Flat, though she is still partially submerged. The Matatua was proceeding In 1 lolebaveii, and was turning round alien, at four in the morning, the seven thousand five hundred tonuer Amciicaii Merchant of the United State- line, which was on her maiden voyage from Now York, Clashed into liei broadside on, striking amidships in the engine room. The .survivors from the .Matatua state the scene in the forecastle was a terrible one. Tbe American Merchant's very sharp bow cut clean through the Mntiitua’s plates like paper. Ihe watei rushed into the hold and the ship began to sink, but the Captain managed to beach her. The American Merchant proceeded to summon the assistance of mgs from Tillmrv. with pieces ol the Matatua’s plates hanging on her bow -ami with her flag. "» half mast.