AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1924, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

[Reuters Telegrams.] e* KILAUEA IN ERUPTION. ALA RM INC 1N DICATIONS. VANfOFVER. May 20. According to a message from Hilo, the volcano Kilauea. which has been erupting for several days, to-day displays most alarming indications, owing to many earthquakes rocking the district.

The explosions at night are most spectacular, the bright moonlight silhouetting a black column of smoke rising to an invisible height. The military camp has been removed to Clciiwood .where a danger line has been established. Two soldiers voluntarily remain at the pit, which, formerly 2800 ft. I>y 2()soft. is now 2oft. by 100 ft. All markings and monuments have been swept away.

FARM MACHINERY PRICES. OTTAWA, May 22. In consequence of the Budget announcements exempting farm implements from the sales tax, combined with a lowering of the Customs duties on raw materials, the Canadian .manufacturers of farming machinery have announced substantial reductions in their domestic prices, and are hopeful of increasing sales on the domestic market, and of holding or increasing their export trade. The new Customs duties, providing substantial reductions, make the present sale on mowing machines, harvesters, reapers and hinders, and attachments, duty free under the British preference tariff, and six per cent net under the general tariff schedule. Cultivators seed drills, harrows, and parts are now duty free under the British preferential tariff and seven and a half per cent net under the general tariff schedule. Ploughs and complete parts are dutiable five per cent under the British preferential tariff, and ten per cent under the general tariff. With the exception of some minor lines, the highest duties on farming implements imported into Canada do not exceed ten per cent on the general schedules.

17.,5.A. SCANDALS. THE FICHT FILMS. NEW YORK. May 20. A message from Xewmark, New Jersey. states that a Federal Craud Jury has named Tex Rickard and six' others in an indictment charging illegal interstate transportation of Dempsey-Car-pentier films. The jury started the investigation, following the disclosures of tho Senate Committee when Rickard testified described the means whereby he circumvented the law. WASIIIXCTOX. May 2ft. Upon the authority of former Attor-ney-vieneral Dougherty, orders by .less Smith, his friend and companion, were obeyed by the Bureau of Investigation of the'Department of Jusliio. so Lew is Bailey, its former Acting Cliiel. testified "before the Senate Committee. He said lie was told bv Dougherty to take up oil questions with Smith, who represented him. lie added: “Everybody around the Department of Justice recognised Smith as a man they must pay attention to. tie was the most powerful mail, next to the AttornoyCoiieral.’*

SPIES AND FBAMK-UPS. WASH INC TON. May 21. Mr W. Duckstein. whose wife was a secret agent in the Department of Justice told the .Dougherty Senate Committee that representatives of the Department of Justice, under the direction of Hiram Todd. Assistant to Dougherty, were used to spy on the Committee members and witnesses. T" r» r<»prosc*nt:it ivi»s had dei-la roil they were going to railroail to Huston. (means to the peninlelitinry.) ami to “frame Senator Wheeler. ' 'I be Committee is to stop women detectives being placed in the Senate Office building ui record conversations. Buckstein did not know if the espionage were still in progress, hut it started on Mil roll Ifi.

F.S.A. AND HINDI'S. NEW YORK. May 21. A protest against a Supreme Court decision that Hindus me not white people. and therefore are not eligible tor United Stales citizenship, has been made hy Doctor Suilliidra Bose, a native fo India, a naturalised citizen ot till* United State-. Dr Bose, who is a lecturer in the University or lowa, raises the annulment of his citizenship in 1 recced ings helore tin* I'edeial Court.

COTTON TRADE. WILL him AIN RIVAL U.S.A.f NEW YORK, May 22. America’s ml ton supremacy is being challenged by the British Empire. So staled Mr Edward Bartlett, l're-i----dei.t of the New Pork Stock Exchange. Ill* based 111- statement on the evidence he found in tin* exhibits al tlie British Empire Exhibition, adding that Australia, Smith Africa, and Soudan have greatly increased their cotton acreage-, and the spinners in England an* encouraging this movement, hoping thereby to he enabled to exchange finished products far tea raw material. Air Bartlett urged America to ad speedily, and exterminate the boll weevel in order to meet competition, lie concluded: Despite the danger of losing our best customer, England. 1 found tlie cotton consumption on the Continent is increasing, notably in Germany, whose purchasing power Is slightly growing.