MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1925, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

SIR JAMES CRATG’S MESSAGE LONDON, Dec. 23

Sir James Craig, in a Christmas message, says t “Tn contrast with the overcast outlook last year, this Christmas presents new hope, not only to Ulster, but to all Ireland. All should be grateful for delivery by Divine mercy from the agonies of bygone years and for the birth of a new spirit of goodwill.” WEATHER IN EUROPE. LONDON, Dec. 24. The ground is sparkling with frost and there is a keen) nipping air, and following on the heavy rain early during the week, it gave London its first touch of appropriate winter weather. Though a white Christinas is unlikely in tlm. south, there have been heavy snowfalls in Devon, the West Midlands, Derbyshire and Westmoreland. A gale, with a velocity of six ty-threo miles hourly, played havoc on the East Coast. It swept across Europe and telegraphs and telephones arc interrupted. rir France and Spain numerous accidents are reported due to the fall of walls, chimneys and roofs. The only cheerful Continental reports are from .Switzerland where the skier is rejoicing in the excellent- snow conditions.

JAPAN AND CHINA. TOKIO, Dec. 21. Tin, Cabinet discussed Manchuria, also the anti-Japanese feeling in China. It was decided that it was regrettable, but Japan’s present course was necessary tor protection. It was reiterated that Japan was absolutely neutral and had no desire to acquire increased iiiflucnco or other ulterior motives, and that she intends to quit Mukden as soon as possible. Cabinet decided Japan will not suggest mediation between Ivuchang, as it believed it may create fresh misunderstanding of Japan’s attitude. The Foreign Office states Kuosung--1 iii is expected to completely defeat Cliangtsolin in a few days upon which Japanese troops will contemplate turning over the city to him. If Chang s retreating soldiers appear at Afukdcii they will be disarmed. At the entrance <>! the six mile zone Cliangtsolin assembled bis leading supporters and in a. farewell speech he stated the reports from the front indicated the enemy had just opened a, decisive attack. He said it the Mukdenitcs were defeated they would refuge elsewhere.

STORM IN JAPAN. TOKIO. Dec

Northern Japan is storm swept ami the losses are reported to include twenty fishing boats which capsized, while 1.50 fishermen are missing. Numbers of houses were destroyed and forty ves-. scls wrecked. THE 'SHANGHAI RIOTS. SHANGHAI, Dec. 21. The Municipal Council is sending a letter to the Senior Consul saying:— Notwithstanding the fact a majority of the judges on the Commission notably' exonerate the police from blame. McEwan, Commissioner of Police, and Everson. Inspector in charge of the T.ouza station, have tendered their resignations. The council preferring, as always, to lake the action likely to promote the. settlement of questions at issue, it was decided io accept the resignations with an expression ol appreciation of the meritorious services those officers have rendered m t ll> past. The council further desires to renew its expressions of regret at the loss of life oil 30th May. and. as a mark of sympathy with the wounded and relatives of those killed, encloses a cheque for seventy thousand dollars “which the Council asks you to transmit to the Chinese Foreign Commissioner for distribution to those concerned. as a compassionate grant.

DRAWING OF A LOTTERY. MADRID. December 2:1. The big prize of half a million sterling in the Spanish lottery, which K the most popular national event ol the vear will be divided between vendors of bananas, ehesnut toasters, umbrella reapirers and hawkers living m the poorest quarters of Madrid. The winners contributed a few pen.e o; eh. Though there are many participants each will receive a large sum. The lottery is the one thing diseussv,j ; Spain, ihe newspapers devoting pages to the drawing, also to the life histories of the winners.

GIRLS FOR HAREMS. SHOCKING REVELATIONS. LONDON. December 21! The Rev. S. AV. Cackett. secretary of the Bible Lands Mission Society, w-m has just returned from Syria, makes shocking disclosures of the treatment of Armenian and other Christian giilx by Turkey. The mission is now buying girls at Cl a head to save them from Die horrors of the harems, where -he girls are taken when they are fourteen. Younger children are farmed out 1" Arabs and Kurds, who keep them until they arc fourteen, and then sell lhe "•

to the harem keepers. Afcanwhile, girK of eight or ten are forced to drive the

boasts of Arabs and Kurds to water, and do other work of nomadic peoples. They are helpless captiycs, not knowing "whether their parents are dead «. r alive. Tn many eases the children rre branded on the face or neck, so that the\ can be traced and returned te their masters if they try to escape. The missionaries find that purehtse is the only way of helping the girls. The League of Nations estimates

that the victims number at least 30,000 but the recent trouble in the Mosul district lias largely added to the numoei.

A 1930 ENTERPRISE. LONDON, December 23,

Though the future of Wembley is still undecided, important tentative enquiries have been received from Alltel lcan sources based on the idea, of preserving the site and buildings for an Anglo-American or an even more comprehensive international exhibition in 1930, for which it is proposed to form n. company comprised of the guarantors of the Empire Exhibition, who will receive scrip to the amount of their present liability. The company will then take over tlio grounds and buildings and sell the space for immediate payment to America and other countries willing to participate. The scheme will necessitate the guarantors foregoing any reduction of their liabilities by the sale ot Wembley. It is suggested that the Locarno Treaty has created a favourable atmosphere for an international exhibition at Wembley, and might afford an opportunity for a. joint enterprise by the United States of America- and tlio “ United States ot Europe.”