MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1924, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

[lt eut k its Trough a ms. 3 SMITH ENE(TTEI). LONDON. Dee. If. The execution of flic Hull prisoner. Smith, was carried out at Hull. It proceeded without incident, contrary to expectations. | Tile crowd outside the prison was most orderly. The hangman slant in the gaol overnight, as a precaution. When the prison bell tolled for the hour of execution, the crowd sang “Nearer Al.v God to Thee!” There were poignant scenes when Smith’s mother eoliapsed but she recovered and remained an hour amidst the crowd. DOMINION TROOIS. LONDON. Dec. ft. General Sir William Tbwaites. lecturing at Woolwich, emphasised the importance of the role of forward fighting troops in eantiiring prisoners and .securing information. Such Inquisitiveness, be said, is not ebaracteristie of the British troops. Ini l is possessed by the Australasians and the Canadians. I.EAGBE OF NATIONS. ROAIE. Dec. “. The League of Nations Council has agreed to a British proposal to postpome discussion on the Geneva i’rotneol until next session. Af. Briaud and Signor Salandra were among those approving of the proposal. The League Council decided to convene in .May. I!)g7>. an international conference to draw up a convention for controlling international traffic in arms and munitions, in which the Cnited States has agreed to participate. It has also decided to summon for February Kith. !!)“.>. the committee which is examining the questions of the private manufacture of arms and munitions. NEW SKYSCRAPER. NEW YORK. Dee. ft. New York's right to the title of the City of Skyscrapers will hi' midi-puted for some time to i-oiiie if a proposed 88 storey office building is to Ik* erected in Lower Broadway. The fact that such a building is contemplated is vouched for by the architect who designed the fifty-one storey Woolwich Building, at present rated as the tallest office structure in the world. lie states that tests will he made shortly to determine the extent that the Woolwich building sways in heavy gales, and the purpose of tbest l tests is to ascertain the praetieableness of an SX-storey building. If practicable, it will lie built, 'flic exact location indicates that it will be near enoiigb to overshadow tbe Woolwich Building.

WEALTHY COMPOSER. lIO.AIE. Dec. It). The composer Puccini's will discloses an estate of “it.()!!<).tff> lire, ill addition to royalties bringing in eight thousand pounds per annum. He lino planned to build nil Opera House; and it is believed bis heirs will carry nut the plan with the assistance of the Governniei.t, as a memorial to Puccini. AIAINTENANC'H f'I.AIAI. LONDON”. Dee. I'. David Williams, of Alerthyr. was stiiiinii'iiied on an order from Auckland ordering him to pay 1 1 is wife. Catherine |()s weekly maintenance. Williams pleaded that when be married tbe woman. be understood that she bad divorced her husband, but be bad since found out that the decree was not made absolute when she married Williams, rit view of the evidence that Williams was never properly married. the Magistrate declined to confirm the order. lint is sending the papers to Auckland. KEIZER E ON V ENTER A. lIONOLEI.f. Dee. !;. The first seizure of narcotics on a vessel from Australia was made aboard tbe Ventura. Louis Ferreira, a fireman was arrested, and seven tins of opium, birds of paradise feathers, and fourteen bottles of whisky were seized. CIGAI.E DISASTER. 23 LIVES LOST ' CAPETOWN. Dee. p. Furl her details of the burning of I lie .loonier Fjgale. uhioli o'i mi red till,' live pules Iroin .Mauritius slum llial there were .T 7 persons aboard. The cargo was one of lottO eases of motor spirit and caught lire. A Chinese passenger was blown up iufif the rigging with It is clothing ablaze, and before help could roach him, lie was burner, to death. A panic followed, and there was a wild rush to the hunts. Women died of fright. Ttvo lull boats abandoned the ship, leaving the captain and ofliccrs and fainting women passengers on the blazing vessel. Alter an hour's torturing work, the French sailors subdued the Haines, but tbe ship began to sink. Tbe boats then returned, and a timber raft was constructed. The ship then sank. There were twenty-three drowned. Two old Roman Catholic priest- who were oli'eretl seats in tbe boats, refused to take them, saying: “We have no families!” One of them was subsequently rescued, after many hours buffeting on a raft six feel square. Tbe limits eventually readied tbe island of Reunion. RANK RE PT SPORTS PIIOAKITEIS. LONDON, December Id. Tbe examination lias concluded in tbe Bankruptcy Court oi -Major Arnold Wilson. A statement of bis allairs showed liabilities ol L‘l 7,111(1 and estimated assets of [fill. 'I lie debtor said lie lost Cl.'),01)0 in promoting the Wemblev light WEMBLEY (JEESTION. LONDON, December ».

The Australian Press Association is authoritatively informed that New - i'oundland is the only Dominion which has unconditionally agreed to continue the Wembley Exhibition in 1925. The other Dominions are bickering over the terms, upon which they will participate in the Exhibition. Canada was originally enthusiastic but since learning that Australia is likely to get better financial terms, this enthusiasm has evaporated. Sir .John Stevenson is temporarily absent from London. Meanwhile the financial terms ol participation by the Dominions are awaiting determination. IMPERIAL FOOD COFNCIL. LONDON, December 9. The Colonial Institute in conjunction with the Commonwealth Commercial Department, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Empire Producers Organisation, the Rritish Empire Dengue the Empire Development l noin, and several similar organisations under the chairmanship of Professor Kenwood will meet in January for the purpose of inaugurating an Imperial Food Council and promoting the consumption of overseas products.

TROTSKY' tlih. (Received this day nt 9.2 d MOSCOW, December 10. Trotsky has been suffering I rum an infectious fever for a month past. His complaint is a. sequel to influenza. The doctors have urgently ordered him away to a health resort in the Caucasus. Trotsky suffered in a similar manner last vear. FOG IN LONDON. LONDON. December 10. Owing to the fog to-dav’s wool tides were postponed the series finishing on Friday instead of to-nmrrow. The Inter-Varsity Softer match. Oxford v. Cambridge at Chelsea, was postponed owing to the fog.