AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1924, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. BIG HAUL FOR BANDITS. NEW YORK, April 2. Seven bandits in Montreal robbed tlic bank of Hocholaga’s treasure ear. Currency to the value of fifty thousand sterling was being moved from one branch to another. When the automobile Stopped alongside a street car the bandits leaped on to the running hoard, and shot the chauffeur dead. 'lhe bandits escaped in another car with tue money bags making the biggest haul of this kind on record. exchange: values. (Received this day at 10.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, April 1. An intimation of favourable findings in Dawes report, and rumours of a Belgian credit for liic purpose of stabilising the Belgian franc, caused sharp advances in Latin exchanges, the Belgian franc reaching five and m? tenth cents representing an overirght gain of three-quarters of a cent. The French franc readied five threecpialters ccui or a gain of two-tenths cent. The lire gained two-tenths cents since yesterday reaching four and a half cents. Sterling gained fractionally 320 1-3 cents.

EXPEDITION TO NORTHERN TERRITORY.

(Received this day at 10.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, April 2.

Discussions liavo begun between the field museum of natural history, Chi,cago, and the American museum of natural history in New York and museum of natural history of Milwaukee, regarding tlie conduct of an expedition to Northern Trritory in from the Gulf of Carpentaria, for the purpose of obtaining a complete unit illustrating aboriginal life, untouched by occidental or Malayan influences, examples of which American museums are greatly lacking. American anthropologists fool that such data will within a few yea is he unavailable, owing to the inarm ~f civilisation. The expedition would aim a-t obtaining all the implements, articles of apparel and a kinematograph record of the life of the blacks. The National Geographic Society has offered Help to defray the cost of the undertaking which is estimated in the vici iity of fifty thousand dollars. A former chief inspector, Beckett of Northern Territory, intimated his willingness to participate in the management of such an expedition. Australia is also providing vessels cruising from Thursday Island which would be the base, and horses and equipment.

FURTHER LIQUOR TREATIES

(Received this day al 11.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 2

It is officially learned the United States has opened negotiations with Japan, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden for a liquor treaty similar to the one she had concluded with Britain. Offi.inl circles are confident that such a treaty will be acceptable to the present powers approached because the latter, apparently, arc convinced that a concession in respect to the privilege of bringing liquor into American waters under seal, more than offsets the disadvantages incidental to the extension of the American right of search to one hour’s steaming from American shores. U.iS.A. PAYMASTER DISAPPEARS (Received this dnv at 9.25 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 2. The Navy Department has spread a world-wide nut to catch Lieut. Irving Brown, assistant paymaster attached to the destroyer division , f (he battle fleet, who lias been absent without leave since the 12th: of March and whoso accounts arc 120,000 dollars short. Brown, after the completion of the Caribbean manoeuvres left his destroyer at Mobile, Alabama, and proceeded thence to New Orleans whence his commanding officer received a telegram stating that Brown Lad missed the train, hut would rejoin the destroyer at the next port of call. Brown nevertheless disappeared. It is believed lie sailed from New Orleans for a foreign port.