BRITISH & FOREIGN HEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1925, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN HEWS

IUBTKALIAN AND N.Z. CABL3 ASSOCIATION AN HISTORIC DOCUMENT, (■Received this day at 9.25 i.m.) LONDON, March 21. Australia House has acquired a most valuable addition of historical documents for the -Mitchell Library in Captain Cook’s letter-book for his second and third voyages. The volume is in splendid condition and it consists of copies by Cook in his own handwrit-

ing of a Commission’s secret instructions, a letter to the Admiralty, orders to subordinates and memoranda on manifold subjects; in fact all orders relating to business on voyages are chronologically recorded. The last entry was written seven weeks before his death. Experts regard the letter book as next in importance to the actual log book which was formerly in the possession of A. G. Riddle, of Montreal, who inherited it from his grandfather, who was a collector of old manuscript: he purchasing it in London. Australia House secured it for Loll.

A PECULIAR CLAIM. ■ (.Received this day nt 9.25 n.rn.) LONDON, March 23. Admiral .Mark Kerr, executor of the I will of the Marquis of .Milfordhaveti, formerly Prince Louis of liattenburg, has petitioned the Inventions Commission to recognise the claim of .Battenburg in connection with a course indicator invented in the ninties when officers were not allowed to patent inventions. The navy has used seventeen hundred and the Air Force seven thousand of these indicators. It was pointed out that Admiral Kerr only brought the claim because the widow was in reduced circumstances as the -Marquis of Milfordhaven had lost the greater part of his fortune which was invested in Russia. The invention had saved tbe country hundreds of thousands and had increased the efficiency of the navy. Air .justice Tomlin expressed the opinion that the Commission ought not to consider the stale claim. If it originally had been patented the patent would have expired before the war, hut he promised an examination. The “Star” points out the application is more remarkable because a son Lord -Mountbatten, married the principal horcss of John Cassel whose will was sworn ac six m illions. A daughter married the Crown Priiic-e of S wedeii.

SOVIET OK El Cl ALS KILLED. LONDON, March 21. A Junker aeroplane flyug from Tillis to Suehtiin caught lire in mid-air and dived to earth, killing two pilots and three passengers, the last named being Af. Afiasnikoff, a member of the Presidium Central Executive Committee of SovieLs; M. Niogfliewski, President ■ extraordinary of the Trans-Caucasian Commission, and M. Ktarbekoff, representative of the Post and J olographs Commissiariat who was on route to the Soviet Congress at Suchum. CHINESE BANDIT OFTRAGEK. PEKIN. March 21. Bandits attacked the village ol A ongehengyu in Mongolia and burnt the premises ol the Belgian Alissiou and set lire to many houses belonging to Christians of wlmm. there were a large number in the village.

The bandits also shot a priest who is believed to be a foreigner.

UNFAIR CO.AfPETTTION

STEEL TRADE CRISIS

[“Tu 17 Times” Service.]

Received this day at 8.50 a.m.) LONDON. .March 21

The “Times” states a British steel crisis is threatened as the result of unfair foreign competition. Manufacturers may apply to the Board ol Trade to appoint a committee under \f\\c .Safeguarding of Industries Act scheme, to consider the position. This has not yet been definitely decided, but a case supporting the application is being prepared. It is stated Continental firms are quoting considerably below actual British costs ol production.

PARTY TRIBUTES TO LORD CURZON.

(Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) LONDON. J larch 24.

In the House of Commons, Messrs Baldwin (Conservative), MacDonald (Labour), Sir John Simon (Liberal) paid high tributes to too late Lord Curzon.

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