MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1924, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

[Reuters Telegrams.] SMYRNA I'mE INSURANCE LONDON .Dee. “11. After a hearing extending over twelve days, Justice Rowitt, in the Commercial Court, gave judgment for the defendant Insurance Companies in the Smyrna lire ease mentioned nil Dee. Ist., thereby bidding that the lire was an act of war and was excluded from insurance policies. The decision will be a big blow to many British traders who were ruined by the fin*, for the action was treated as a test case for claims amounting to nearly 2(1 millions sterling under insurance policies with British and other companies. HOBBS REMANDED. LONDON, Dee. 20. Hobbs was remanded, bail again being refused, after the hearing of evidence of a recapitulatory nature. SHEEP-SKIN SALES. LONDON, Dee. in. At the sheepskin sales, li.'i'o hales wore olforod. most of which were sold. .Merinos were par to five per cent, above November prices. Crossbreds advanced live to ten per cent. Others were fully ten per cent. COMMUNIST PLOT. LONDON, December 20. The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent states that the particulars of a CoiiMinmist plot to seize Amiens were similar to those of the plot cabled on December 7. A section of the Red Army were to march from meeting places late at night, seize the Town Mali, the Post and Telephone Offices, and the railway station, and arrest the .Mayor, and also other notable citizens. They were to then found a French Soviet, and a republic was to have been established. BIG REYAL El BE. LONDON, December 20. A message from i’eval, via Helsingfors, states that damage estimated at five million Estlionian marks lias been done by a fire in buildings belonging to the State Railways, lit the course of the fire, several explosions occurred. The uthorities are of the opinion that the Communists had stored ammunition there. Three Communists were arrested on tile spot. KX-GOVEItNOR BANISHED. MADRID. December 10. The authorities have banished Jimenez. ex-Governor of Seville, on the charge of publishing articles hostile to the Directory, and have closed a Alasctii'-- Lodge building.

A GRUESOME FIND. PARIS. December 10. Night"atebmen and policemen found three bulky parcels in different thoroughfares itL the city. Each contained dismembered portions of a man's body. The right thigh and the head are still missing. The man was apparently under JO. mid well built. 11 is bands were soft and white. The dismemberment was most skillully performed. X.UAS Jit INI’S. XK\Y YORK, December 20. Christmas bonuses, amounting to at least forty million dollars, are being distributed by Wall Street, so it is estimated; but some statisticians place tile figure at 70 millions. ()filer boy. clerk, senior partner, and practically every worker in the finan- ( i.,1 di.t I i'-t will ishat e in w lo't will be i lie greatest gilt that business over made to itself. Never belol'e lias Wall Street had so much money or so imtcli will to reward its workers with. AN ADMIRAL’S REDDEST. LONDON, December 21. Admiral Sir Percy Scott’s will expressed the hope the executors would act as guardians to his children until they reach the age of 21 or 27. and endeavour to keep their heads stinight. ARMY MEAT CONTRACT. I.ODXOX, December 20. The Australian Aleut Council learns that the War Office is inviting tenders for the supply of one million and a half twelve-ounce tins of corned beef on Alareb 10. PEDIGREE STOCK FOR BRITAIN. LONDON, December 30. The Government lias introduced a Pill in the Mouse of Commons to permit lhe importation of pedigree cattle, sheep, goats and swine I rims, tin* 0"millions. ORIENT LINE’S ( O.MPLAINT. LONDON, December 10. A Scheme, calculated to drive An-<do-Australi:iii shipping from the U:dk,,i ports, with the eventual purpose of (boding Australia and New Zealand with Europe’s surplus population, by Mali.in ships, was revealed at the Orient Shipping Company’s meeting by the Chairman. Sir Kenneth Anderson, lie said that as a crowning impertinence to a long series of cosily ami irritating restrictions relative to Ibe embarking of emigrants uL Naples. Italv now insists that an Malian me. Imust be carried as the senior medics,! officer if the Orient i.iiw'« vessels ;u -e t„ dilute to embark Italian emigrants. This supplements the earlier demand that the Orient Line must make an Italian port their port ol departure. irrespective of the naUonab y of (he emigrants earned. Hus would prevent British emigrants from hoarding the ship except at Naples.

WEMBLEY EXHIBITION*. LONDON. December 20. T fii* Duke of York will be president ~f the Wemblev Exhibition in 10-“-owing to the absence of the I’nnre of Wales in Africa.