MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1924, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AOSTHALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. DETECTIVE PRESENT. REHEARSAL THAT FAILED. LONDON, April 10. Recently in the small hours at a West End night club the bell rang and all the clients’ glasses were changed for coffee cups and the bar was locked. The proprietor said: “That’s good. You can now reorder your drinks.” This rehearsal was a preparation for a police raid, and was described in the Police Court to-day. Unfortunately for the secretary, a detective was present at the rehearsal. As a result the secretary was fined heavily and the club was struck off the register. ROUMANIAN ROYALTY IN PARIS. PARIS, April 12. The Roumanian Sovereigns have arrived l-cie- The visit is primarily an official one, after the coronation of 1922, but the presence of the Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dues, lends pi Htieal significance to the occasion. especially in view of the unofficial talk following upon the FrancoCzech Alliance. Dnea interviewed, said hoped the Russo-Roumauian negotiations regarding Bessarabia, which recently broke down in Vienna, might be resumed. MARCONI’S DIVORCE. LONDON. April 10. The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Express” understands that the marriage of Signor Marconi was dissolved at Fiunie on the eve of the annexation of Fiunie by Italy. The divorce lias been recognised ns valid by the Italian courts, and the wife has now married the Marquis Liborio Narigno'i, whom she had known some time. Signor Marconi has settled a large fortune upon her and her three children. A SENSATIONAL PLOT.

COMMUNIST PLOT SUSPECTED. LONDON, April 10. The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Express” telegraphs that attempts lo steal diplomatic documents from Hassan Feu/.i, a Turkish officer, by chloiforming him and three other passengers on the Rome-Prague night cxpreis, were the subject of a sensational trial. Arez'.o Tarsi and Andreoni, two Communist students, confessed that when Ee'izi and three other travellers were asleep. Tursi took from a rack six pliiah of < hlorform and other, a roll of cotton wool, a dagger and a revolver. Ho sprinkled tufts of the wool with other ami spread them on the lloor. If: joined Andreoni, wlio was in the nest compartment. When he returned Tomassi, a business man awoke and shouted for help. Tursi stabbed Tomassi in the neck. In the struggle tile window was broken, so Tursi and Andreoni fled. As they ran thiough the corridor Tomassi woiinde 1, followed them crying “Thief.”

A soldioi barred the communication door, so Tursi turned and shot Tomassi in the biurt and jumped off the train, breaking his leg. He and Andreoni were laler arrested. The at lack on Eeuzi is attributed to a Communist plot. IRISH BISHOP'S ADVICE. LONDON. April 12. The Bishop of Galway, in a speech advised parents -to restrain wayward girls, lie said: “Lay the lash across their hacks.” Referring to what he termed a “shameful lack of chastity among youngsters.” ho said: “I blame the girls themselves. They are not innocent. They are not misled. < Some of our fri'/h girls are becoming regular devils. They are a disgrace lo the countryside. If it were not lor the hoys’ purity, there would he more scandals than they are now.” IT, ENCI l COX DITIONS. PARIS, April 11. The difficulty of securing unanimity of the Gi vertimeiits in regard to the application of the Experts’ plan is becoming increasingly apparent. -I he Ere.i :ii Government is officially silent, hut the inspired Press indicates that the Ruhr will he France’s trump card in the forth coming inter-Allied negotiations. France will consent to the economic evacuation of the Ruhr on condition that the Allies ol b ranee will promise to join b ranee in imposing sanctions in the event ol Gernniuv’s failure to carry out the plan and that there would he a partial, il not totid, cancellation ol the inter-Al-lied debts, or at least France’s debt to Britain. Undoubtedly, I'ranee will insist on more effective guarantees than the Experts propose.

The iiiit rpivtiition of the Experts' report is also likely to be disputed. lor example the Government organ ‘'Petit lhi-M. n” affirms that the Experts contemplate the progressive economic evacuation of the Buhr. Thus the ne-trolinri-'us of Governments, are likely to he less laborious, especially if a speedy decision, which the Experts are under-lend to consider essential to the success of their scheme, is to be readied. HOUSING REFORM. LONDON, April 11. The National House Building Committee’s report recommends a fifteen years piogrenime for the erection of 2.500,000 houses. An average of 170,000 house- annually is aimed at, by utilising of material, and also an increase in the number of building apprentices from 21.000 to 56.400. This will be secured by recruiting apprentices up tt. 20 years instead of, as at present, up to IG years. It is understood that Mr Wheatley proposes a subsidy of 120 s per house yearly.

MADAME FAIIMY JJEY. LONDON, April 10. The Central News Agency’s Paris correspondent states a remarkable plot lias gained publicity regarding Madame Faliiny Boy, whose trial took place in February for shooting her husband, an Egyptian notable, when she was acquitted. She is now living in France. It is understood that, owing to legal obstacl-'s, she cannot inherit her late husband's fortune of two million pounds. It is alleged Cassab Bey, a Cairo millionaire, recently approached Madame Fahmy Bey, suggesting she obtain a male child, and claim she was the mother, and also arrange for medicl support for the story. Then' it would be easy he stated, to gain possession o! the estate. The woman pretended ro be favourable to the scheme, but told the police, and in the police hearing it is alleged Cassab Bey repeated his offer, and declared he had found 1 doctor to play the desired part. Next day Cassab was seen leaving a doctor's house, and he was arrested. It is siaied he confessed to the plot, from which he hoped to make £2OOO. Madame says she was going to have a baby, b".t. she tripped and fell from a tram cf Cannes in January. She still intends to bring an action against her late hurt a lid’s effects. CASSAB’S ADMISSION. LONDON, April 12. The “Daily Express’s” Paris correspondent states Cassab Bey is aged GO, and is a Cairo rag merchant. He told l’ e Magistrate that be came to Paris r.t Madame Fabmy’s request. He admitted that bo bad suggested that she shin'd produce a child to support her in her financial claim. ATTACK BY ROBBERS. NAPIER, April 13. Three men armed with iron bars, last night attacked Mr and Mrs H. W. Thompson, of the Gaiety Picture Theatre, as they were on their way home alter the performance, the probable object of the assault being robbery, but Thompson carried no money. One or tile men struck at Thomson, and inflicted a slight wound on the neck,' and Thompson retaliated with his walking stick, Mrs Thompson was struck on me arm, while feeling in her pocket for an electric torch. The calls of those attacked caused the attackers to make off, and two or three others" who responded to the calls, took up the chase, which was unsuccessful. The police are investigating. EVICTED TENANT. LONDON, April 11. A house owner who, under the Rent Act, obtained the eviction of his tenant on the pretext that he desired to live in the house himself, and then sold the house profitably, was sternly penalised at Leigh Court. Judge Mcllor said he would report him to the Public i'rosecutor for perjury. Ho ordered possession to be restored to the evicted man, who was awarded s2o eoinpeiisat ion and costs.