MISELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1924, Page 1

MISELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. TERRIFFIC STORMS IN U.S.A. LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 29. A telegram from Kansas City states another of the terriffic storms which have been taking a toll of lives and property this winter, occurred during the last twenty-four hours. This time the tornado and the floods extended from the Rocky Mountains. Thirty dead are already reportod and many hundreds have been injured. Three small towns in Illinois have been eompletelyp destroyed and the fate of thousands of inhabitants is undetermined. The wind and storm cut across the conu try to the south, demolishing thousands of buildings. Four hundred students in a school at Shawnee, Oklatroma, were dismissed when the teacher saw the clouds massing. The building was demolished a few minutes later.

Railway trains in many parts of the country were blown from the tracks. Snow slides occurred at Utah. Through rivers emptying into the Mississippi, it overflowed its banks and large sections of four States have been flooded. The storm is continuing with blizzards and torrential raiits. THE BOK PEACE PLAN. NEW YORK, March 29. Bok Peace Committee lias announced that 610,-558 votes- have been cast to date, whereof 523,177 favour the plan the remainder being against. The committee asserted that population American is virtually assured, votes from every State showing that an overwhelming majority are favourable. AYIE R 1 CAN BROADCASTSG. NEW YORK, March 29. On the occasion of the opening of one of the newest and most powerful radio broadcasting stations special programmes of Australian and New Zealand music, lectures etc., was chosen, including greetings from prominent Australians, ANOTHER DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE.

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 29. The "Now York Times” Tokio correspondent says that Senator Borah’s resolution asking President Coolidge to call a further armament conference ai New York lias given tho disarmament here a further impetus and the Navy Department has already appointed experts to study the question of a reduction of auxiliary craft and aircraft m order to have all data ready. Naval officers opine that it is only a matter of a short time when such a conference will be called to check the ships. The Japanese frankly hope that American public opinion will endorse the issue. The Japanese interest in tho question is doubly great in view of the financial burden of reconstruction as competition in light eralt would he disastrous. At the same time the Jingo elements view with alarm the other nations' activities In this direction. Naval authorities consider the abandonment of

Singapore as a, demonstration of the ! British desire to cheek competition in naval armament and her willingness to participate in a conference for this purpose. KING’S TRAIN BOGGED. ROME, March 28. A special train carrying the King ; of Italy to Amalfi dashed into a mass of earth which was the result of the landslide. Ihe train, howc'ci, ploughed its way through this debris for a long distance before being brought to a standstill. It pulled up without harm, beyond the violent shock. The King went on to Amalfi in a motor car. TO STOP RUM-RUNNING. DEPARTMENTS INCREASING ACTIVITIES. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 20 In order to stop the growing activities of the rum runners tv bo operate with smugglers on the Atlantic, two Government departments have begun extraordinary arrangements to provide more men and extra equipment to cope with the situation. Mr Wilburn announced that nineteen destroyers will he repaired, Congress having appropriated one hundred thousand dollars therefore and it has incorporated a coastguard for patrolling the eastern vtaer.s inure effectively so as to cope with the liquor fleet which is growing progressively larger and more agres-

Congress will he asked for largo ap[iripriations to provide an increased customs guard aiul contingents at Eastern ports, especially New Aork where, at present, the force is insufficient to prevent drug smuggling which is continuing on a larger scale, not only among professional smugglers, hut members of crews of incoming vessels. The Internal Revenue Bureau haS determined to intensify its efforts to bring the traffic to a halt as it is now reaching dangerous proportions.

NEW TYPE OF BEE.

.Received this day at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 29 The “New York World’s” correspondent at Washington says that E. Campbell, a local apiarist during the annual meeting of bee men, exhibited a new species of bee of tlio A’del strain which lacks a sting. Studies and culturing over many years produced the new type of insect which, while retaining its honey making powers,. possesses neither offensive nor defensive qualities other than its great wing strength, [ts (light is extremey rapid and being attacked it depends on its speed. The belief is expressed that the bee also shows great resistance to the Isle of Wight disease, although no specific experiments in this direction have yet been attempted. The insect showed many qualities, ' making it desirable commercially. Its tractability, however, being paramount a heavy demand for the bee has already been evidenced throughout, the country. NEW YORK, March 29. Tex Rickard lias announced that he has signed up Wills the negro heavyweight for a fight in June or July with either Firpo, Rojas of Chile, or Spalla, the European heavy weight champion. If successful against the Latin-Ameri-can opponent, Wills agreed to meet Dempsey lor the title in September. Wills will fight on a percentage basis.