BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1924, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

WOMAN ACCUSED OF FOUR MUR DIALS.

(Received this dav at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, March 25,

The “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent slates the wife of a superior official in the law courts has been arrested on the suspicion of murdering two husbands, her motherin-law and brother-in-law. It is alleged, as tlio result- of the death of the first husband, his mother and brother, accused inherited the family’s wealth. Accused is only thirly-two. She lirst entered the family as a nurse. Doctors gave certificates of death on her testimony that they were due to natural causes or suicide. FORMER OTAGO PROFESSOR DIES. (“Sydney Sun” Cables). (Received tin’s day at 8 n.m.) LONDON, -March 2b Obituary. Frederick Gibbons, formerly Professor of Mathmatics at Otago. GREEK DYNASTY. « ATHENS, March 2b The Assembly adopted a resolution in favour of the overthrow of the dynasty and tlio establishment of a Republic. TRANSPORT STRIKE.

LONDON, March 2b

The Court of Inquiry into the London transport nl l ike has issued an interim report, stating, inter alia : “No body lias seriously questioned the workers’ claim to increased wages. Hie crisis arises owing to the inability of various undertakings to earn sufficient to meet the claim.”

The 'report concludes:- “The only hope of ic-opcning negotiations between the parties is an undertaking that tlie Government will press forward legislation for placing the -Metropolitan passenger traffic under a co-ordinating control . The Government lias decided to introduce to-moirow a Bill, as recommended in tiie report of the Court of Enquiry, into the transport strike, and to expedite its passage. Meantime, negotiations continue. R EI’AR ATIO X PAYM EX TS. (Received this dav at 9.2 b a.m.) LONDON, March 2b. The Reparations Commission, in a statement regarding the sums Germany lias paid through the Commission to December 1923. puts the total payments at 8,411 million gold marks, of which 2,719 millions, have not yet boon distributed. Britain, thus far, has received in cash and kind 1,318 millions, France 1,804 millions. Italy 379 millions and Belgium 1,732 millions. Out of these receipts Britain has paid 972 millions of marks towards the army of occupation and France has paid 1,373 millions. The Allied powers have thus far received 2.(538 millions in excess of the cost ol the army of occupation and the control ol commissions and other expenses. Belgium, on a balance, gains 1.4 In millions. Serbia. with 282 millions and Italy 358 millions have better balances than France and Britain.

THE MISSING

[Reuters Telegrams.] (Received this day at 12.45 p.m.) LONDON. March 2b. Eight men are missing from the Matatua and have been identified as all ('reusers, with addresses in -Loudon. A tug brought, to Gravesend five mutilated bodies. Three arc still missing. FRICTION OF PLATES CAUSE FIRE (Received this dav at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, March 2b. The “Daily Mail” reports that the hole in the Matatua's side is thirty-six by fifty feet. The interior of the forecastle resembles a house that had been shelled. Iron bars are twisted into shapeless masses and the bodies, which are. unrecognisable, are crushed and intermingled with the woodwork. The friction of the grinding of the plates during I lie collision set lire to the woodwork and there was an explosion resembling the bursting of boilers. Men rushed to the lifeboats but discipline quickly reasserted it.-elf. Wireless appeals for assistance were sent and hoses played on the flames. The Yankee ship kept her no.se in the hole and pushed Ihe Matatim two miles.

NEGOTIATIONS FAIL. LONDON. March 25. Tlie tramway negotiations have ruptured. FLYING JOURNEY. LONDON - , March 25. Mat*Karen descended at Havre owing to fog. EN-CUNBOAT’S PREDICA.MENT. ALCOHOL USED AS FUEL. Received this day at 9.25 n.m.) OTTAWA, March 25 A former Cuban gunboat, the -Maria Theresa, but now used lor caigo running, arrived at St. John’s, New Koitudlaiid. in a flipapidated condition, due to the severe buffeting by storms. After the first storm the fuel was exhausted, the ship being helpless. The captain conceived the idea ot using alcohol, whereof the cargo consisted, as fuel. The furnaces were fitted to use alcohol and during the last week burned in,ooo worth. Even then the ship made such poor time that the food supplies became exhausted. The crow landed starving and were hnrdlv able to stand.

INDIAN POLITICS. (Received this day at 9.15 a.m.> DELHI. .March 25 The Bengal Legislative Council continues to reject the Budget demands, including amounts for .Ministers’ saL nries which were rejected by (ill to bamid sliutils ol The Ministers previously offered to accept 4000 instead of 5333 rupees. One .Minister said that if the vote was rejected lie was prepared to act honorarily. CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. LONDON. A!arch 25 Air Philip Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer) has written the Parliamentary replv. The estimated defence expenditure ' for 1923-2-1 is Britain £131,601,000; Canada £3,513,000, Australia £3,426,000, New Zetr’an 1 .£1177.000. and South Africa £1,078.0,0. TURKISH POLITICS. CONSTANTINOPLE Alnreh 25. A serious situation has arisen owing to tlie Assembly after stormy scenes, rejecting, an article in the new Constitution empowering the President to dissolve tire Assembly. Telegrams from Angora indicate the possibility of a dissolution of the* Assembly vfTiTch would bo tantamount to n coup d’etnt.