NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1924, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL.

BATHING GIRLS KIDNAPPEDBI'CAREST, July 23 The latest crime of the bandit Toronto, who lives in a lioat which is. easily concealed among the reeds in the extensively Hooded regions of the district of Galatg, has necessitated a concentration of troops who are trying to encircle him. Toronto lias a machine gun mounted in the boat, and he easily steals all lie wants to. A few days ago he kidnapped two girls who were bathing. Ransom was paid and the girls released.

MILLIONTH JOURNEY. LONDON, July 29. Robertson, the stately and dignified attendant of the main lift of tlie Savoy Hotel, drove his moving room of gold and red lacquer towards the skies for the millionth time just before the luncheon hour veslcrdav.

The achievement was registered on a dial in tin* engine-rooms below, where every journey of all the lifts lias been automatically registered since their installation.

Robertson has been driving this lift lor 18 years. For the last three days he has been kept informed of the figures on the dial. Yesterday } having completed the 99!),999th journey, lie went in .search of three people in the foyer who had been warned of the approaching moment. Then the ceremony of the millionth journey began. In the lift were Judge Hazlitt, of New York, who, as an unknown lawyer many years ago, was one of the first of Robertson’s passengers; an elderly, white-haired Italian princess who lias been a twiceyearly visitor for years; and a London financier who, living oil the third floor, is tlie most regular passenger. A table bearing glasses stood discreetly in a cornc-r.

For the millionth time the lift ascended. On tlie top floor it paused for a moment. The three passengers raised their glasses to the stately figure in blue and silver. A few minutes later he had registered a few more journeys towards his second million. £3,300 FOR A BIBLE. LONDON, July 27. At -Messrs Sotheby’s rooms, New Bond-street, AA'., yesterday, the? sale began of books from the library at Ecton Ilall, Northants, sold by order of the owner, Col. 11. G. Sothoby. Many of these hooks were purchased by James Sothebv towards the end of the 17th eenturv.

A beautiful example of tlie finest illuminated work of the early lltli century, a Bible, with the Latin manuscript on thin vellum, beautifully written in clear Gothic characters, was sold for £3,300 to ATr Aluller, of Amsterdam. Other prices included:

First editions of “Chronicles of England” and “Description of Britain,” hound. together, £3,100 (Rosenbarli). They hear the imprint “AA'cstminstcr, AA'. Caxtoii,” and the dates “10 June, 1180” and "18 August, 1 180” respectively. AA’alter liigges, "A Sumiuaric And True Discourse of Sir Frances Drake’s AAesl Indian A'oyagc. . . will) geo graphicall mappes . . . Imprinlcl al London by Richard Field, dwelling in the lilaeke-Friars by I.litigate 1389,” £1,330 * Ouaritcli). I.IArni.ESS BUILDER. LONDON, July 27. During the hearing of a .judgment summons at Brighton yesterday against Frank Knight, of Storrington, Sussex, it was stated by the creditor’s solot-itor that Knight—who did not appear—was legless and hamlloss. A cripple all his life, he nevertheless worked as a builder. Employing four men, he lmilt four houses this year, himself working on tlie roofs and doing carpentering. He lias stump wrists and short thigh stumps, and when writing letters lie holds the pen in liTs Teelh and guides it with his arms. Knight had been ordered to pay a debt of £3B at £4 a month, and the judge now made a new order for the payment of L'2 a month. LOSES TITS BRIDE AND HIS .TOR. LONDON. July 27 Yesterday, the day fixed for his wedding, George Williams, a young railway cleric, was lined CIO at Cardiff for stealing £2O. Blending for leniency, his solicitor said that owing to the charge the prospective bride had refused to marry AA'illinins, who had also lost his job and his character. HANGED BY CLE.AIATIS. YEA’F.Y, July 27 A mail named ITollncr met with a remarkable death while walking ill the country at Bislioezell. ITe was passing across a hillside, when the earth gave wav and lie fell into a thicket. ” His body was found later suspended by a knot of Alpine clematis which had heroine twisted round his nock during the fall.