BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1925, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN ASU N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. OBITUARY. LONDON, February 3. Obituary—lulni Lane, the. publisher. A MANLIKE APE. > (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) CAPETOWN, February 3. 1 A scientific discovery of the first importance was made at Tamigs, Berlin • amilaud. A i'essil skull, representing something between a man and a great ape, was found fifty feet deep in limestone cliffs. The anatomical professoi of Band University pronounced the gap was filled between tne most primitive and most advanced ape. The individual was not an apelike man, but a manlike ape, unable to talk but more intelligent than a gorilla. INDIAN WHEAT. DEJiHI, February 3. During The past year, India cxi ported seventy-one thousand tons i Hour, against previously a yearly average of about six hundred tons. It is believed the bulk of the new consignments wci|.f 'reaching Russia though Egypt trade was largely stimulated recently by reports of a big corner o wheat in America. THE HOBBS CASE. TRUE BILL RETURNED. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) HONDO.', Feb. 3. The Recorder in charging the Grand Jury at the Old Bailey, referred to the pending charge of conspiracy to be heard against Hobbs. He said: “Three hundred thousand sterling may appear to you to be a large sum to pay for assailing -Mrs Robinson’s virtue and probably you think that if farthings were to be substituted lor pounds it would more appropriately represent the value of her virtue; but that has nothing to do with us. 'lhe point is that Sir Hari Singh, for political and other reasons, was most anxious to avoid 'publicity. 'I hese scoundrels played on that knowledgf and were able to get two cheques. 1 should say there is no doubt that Hobbs was the party of a gigantic fraud, perhaps one of the most monumental and most impudent in criminal history.” The Jury found a true bill against Hobbs.

INDEPENDENT EXPERT’S VIEWS. (“Sydney Sun” Cables) (Received this day at 9.25 i.m.) LONDON, February 3. The ‘'Daily Mail” quotes an independent expert, who says that St. Paul’s i; so dangerous that he would not go inside except as a duty. T lie Corporation is fully justified in threatening closure. Sir Christopher Wren endeavoured to shift the weight of the dome b building thirty-two buttresses, 23 of which split. The others are xerioiish impaired, resulting in a greater weight on the main dome piers than \\ ren intended.

The present Committee refuses t face realities. It will cost two million pounds to rebuild the piers, which is the only method for the restoration of the soundness of the dome. AA c must not leave the problem to the future generation.

As there is a risk of collapse the police ought to consider whether they should allow traffic in the neighbourhood.

STEEL HOUSES. LONDON, February 3. Progress is being made with the idea of steed dwelling houses, specimen* whereof are to he shortly erected I/.)!-, dun and the, main 'pipvinciali centres. The idea was rec-cutly on-

posed by the building unions. Air Neville Chamberlain in a .speech said that the unions were afraid of competition, but the public was not going to tolerate obstruction in any torin or from any quarter. He was willing to giv< the AY heat ley Act a fair trial, provided his opponents treated, his schemes similarly.

BELGIAN POLITICS. [“The Times” Service. | 1 Received this day at 9.-15 a.m.T LONDON. February 3. The, •‘'Times" Brussels- ■com-cspon-dent says the question of votes ior women threatens to wreck the Belgin Government. When Al. Theunis’ Liberal and Catholic .Ministry was formed it was understood its programme would he restricted to financial and economic questions. The Catholics, with the Socialists’ support, have now introduced a hill granting women the right to vote in provincial elections. The Liberals opposed it, declaring that it was outside the Government’s programme. It is expected that if the Catholics do not reconsider their decision the Liberal .Ministers will resign, causing a crisis resulting in a dissolution. DUBLIN EXPLOSIVES CASE. LONDON, February 8. Alfred Norgrove, a mechanic, was sentenced to six months imprisonment for being found in possession at Dublin of explosives, lie explained that the arsenal belonged to the Republican Army and had not been disturbed since the cessation of lighting.

PENNY POSTAGE. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, February 4. A deputation representing the printing and paper making industries urged the Postmaster-General to restore penny postage, contending the restoration would stimulate trade and reduce unemployment and help the Home expoi t trade. It was pointed out that tlic sales of picture postcards in New Zealand had increased twenty-live per cent since New Zealand had reduced the postage rates and that South Africa was about to restore penny postage. Therefore the moment was opportune for its reintroduction into Britain. It ■was also mentioned that the income from advertisements exhibited at Post, Offices is now C 21.000 yearly, therefore the Postmaster-General would be interested to learn that the printing industry had embarked on a campaign ot collective advertising and would shortly send out thousands of booklets advocating the more extensive use of mail advertising. This would enable postal officials to base their estimates on more optimistic lines.

QUEENSLAND REDEAIPTION LOAN * LONDON. February 3. A Queensland loan of about twelve millions sterling has been underwritten at live per cent at ninety-nine, redeinable in 19-10 to 1900 to replace maturing loans. AIAAIAIOTH ART UNION. DUNEDIN, February 4. The winding up of Dunedin’s mammoth art union disclosed the total value of the tickets sold as C-B,o—-The prize money of four thousand sterling was distributed as under. Otago £O6O. Canterbury anci YA est Coast -4JBIS, Palmerston North, Hawker, Bay and Wa.ii-ftrapu 48W, And Nelson £2*l6, WfirtfWnU district i‘24-1, lotUliUnd <ssr