MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1924, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

ItT*T2ALIAN AND N.Z. GAnr,Z ASSOCIATION. AN IMPORTANT INVENTION. LONDON, Oet. 7. The Oxford University Institute of Agricultural Engineers lias invented a system of drying crops which, it is believed will revolutionise British agriculture, allowing tile harvests to he gathered in the wettest weather, and preventing deterioration in hay crops. Tile scheme is to cut the crons, and take them tin in circular clacks of from ten to twenty tons, around a hollow central chamber, when hot air is blown over them by powerful lans. Haystacks luive been dried by this method in ten hours without fermentation. Eighteen tons of barley were cut and dried in fouiU.cn hours at a cost of Is Gd per ton. the grain turning out bright and ha rd.

GANDHI'S CAMPAIGN. DLMJJI. October 7. To-morrow Dr. Gandhi’s twenty-on« days’ fast will Be Kimplolcd. To-day oe was extremely weak. An American specialist was called to attend him and all interviews were stopped. SPANISH CHANGE. MADRID. October 7. The succession of the Military Directorate by a moderate Socialist Government, under General Do Rivera, is a possible development of the present poli-ti'-al situation. The Directorate today is- iicd a communique, sympathising with the aims of the moderate Socialists. No obstacles have lately been placed in the way of the Socialist movement. PEACE OB AVAR. BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS. LONDON. Oct S. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic corersnondc-iit. says that unless the British Government could he found willing to disassociate itself from the Do- ■ millions on the vital issue of peace or war. tin* Geneva protocol as far as the British Empire is concerned is dead. Its chances of acceptance by the Domini in Governments and Parliaments, ecu in its earlier form, were never i great: hut the coup de grace tulininis- mq' tered by the lltli. hour amendments •; were introduced to satisfy Japanese sus- ' epptibilities regarding Japanese emigration. The correspondent learns from a representative source that all the Pacific Dominions .share the above view, which, doubtless, South Africa will also take. .gL FREE STATE CONSUL. (Received tills day at 10.25 n.m.) WASHINGTON, October 8. Timothy W. Sniiddy (Lisli Free Statu Minister) presented his credentials to Mr Coolidge and announced that the United States Consulate at Dublin had been raised to a Consulate General.