MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1926, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

LUNCHEON FOR POOR CHILDREN

LONDON, Jam 2

Eleven hundred poor children of London were the guests of New Zealand children at a luncheon at the Guildhall under the auspices of tho Church Army. Mr Prebendary Carlisle, presiding, announced a cable of thanks and greetings had been sent to New Zealand. .FIX-NEW ZEALANDER’S DEATH. LONDON, Jan. 2. At the inquest on Lady Itussell. seventy-eight, widow of Sir \\ . Russell, a former New Zealand Cabinet Minister, it was revealed that she fell down in her own home on the nth December, and fractured her leg, but death was duo to heart failure. RUGBY WIRELESS STATION. LONDON, Jan. 2. Rugby’s first day traffic was most satisfactory.

Australian travellers who were mostly supplied al sea with German news from Naucii. were interested to know that the tests in America showed Rugby’s signals were three limes stronger than Nation's Tho British supervisor lias been informed from New Zealand that the small steamer Anchor I in Boss Bay picked up Rugby’s news bulletin. The strength was nine whereas six is a good readable reception. The supervisor says this test assures that all mail si earners to and from Australia will receive bulletins twice daily during ihc whole voyage. It is learned the officials do not expect Australia’s beam station in Skegness to be ready before June at tho earliest. NEW YORK, Jan. ‘2.

Broadcasting from London in an elaborate world-wide test is declared a success in messages received from persons in all parts of the United States. \n American programme was heard re broadcasted as successfully in England, according to a cable from the British Broadcasting Company, of London.

BRITONS OF THE SOUTH. LORD .BURNHAM’S OBSERVATIONS LONDON, January 1. Lord Burnham on his return from the conference said that although New Zealand was the most homelike of all the Dominions, Australia was not fur behind. One cannot, help thinking, as the centuries roll on, it may well he that in Australia and New Zealand there will ho carried on and carried forward a British type of civilisation under hotter conditions and more effectively than anywhere else in the world.

A DEBATING TOUR. LONDON. January I

A University delegation sails on the 2nd January on a debating tour through Canada, New Zealand and Australia. It comprises Ralph May (Birmingham), MacDonald (Edinburgh). Molsoii (Oxford Union), and Reed (London). The subjects for debate include the Protocol, the Singapore Base and Western civilisation. PRINCE OF WALES’ MESSAGE. LONDON. January 2. Tho Prince of Wales, as patron of the British Legion, sent through the Legion's Journal to all ex-service men, widows and dependents of the fallen, his very best wishes lor 192(5. The Prince says lie has now had the privilege of travelling through the British Commonwealth of Nations and has seen mi enormous number of ex-service men and women, also widows and dependents who were kind enough to come to greet him. He rejoices to realise that the same spirit of loyalty and affection to their cmiidry and Empire pervades the countries he visited, as is the ease here in the Old Country. The Prince of Wales concluded:—

May tile New Tear bring you all better limes and thus reward you for all you and yours have dune. That is my sincere wish.” SHORT-AVEFG ITT MED CD ANTS. [IKYING BY THE I,II—SELLING BY THE PACKET. LONDON, January 1. The Food Council has issued a white paper revealing the extent of the practice of giving short weight in foodstuffs. Mr Cole, Inspector of Weights and Measures at Manchester, declares that ninety per cent of the principle foods, including made-up packages and bags were generally short- weight. Peas which were originally packed in pound packages later dropped to ten ounces without an intimation to the public, the packet remaining the same size. When the retailers were accused of short-weight they retorted that they were selling by the package and not bv weight. The Council urges that the giving of short weight should he a penal offence. The weight should appear on Ihe packages. A SEVERE STORM. NEW YORK. .Tan. 2. American Samoa was struck on Friday by the most severe storm experienced for more than twenty years. Pago Pago Bay is covered with much wreckage, includ nigeth wreckage, including the debris of several buildings. Several people wore slightly injured and the water system and power lines were considerably damaged.

MOUNTAININC EXPEDITION. CAPETOWN, January 1

George Londt has returned from, an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro and stales he reached a height of fifteen thousand feet, spending a night in the crater. The weather was mild throughout the climb. Grass grows at an altitude of eleven thousand feet; thence there is a weird wilderness of jagged krantzes to the crater, which is dried up, the vent once leading to the interior of the mountain. Londt found a book wrapped in oilcloth on the edge of the crater. The book was left by two German climbers eleven years ago. After thirty hours rest at the crater Londt scaled the summit. Later Londt made an ascent of Mount Kenya, but at sixteen thousand feet he became snow blind; thence, amid swirling snow storms, the natives accompanying him led him to the summit and back to an altitude of twelve thousand feet where lie recovered his sight. Londt, having sealed the two peaks, claims that lie has the right to rename them.

NEW PROPERTY LAW. LONDON, Jan. 2

One of the most important changes in the new law of property, which begins operating to-day, is an extension of the equalisation of the positions of husband and wife. Primogeniture, or the eldest son’s rigid to the father’s freehold land, is abolished. The distinction between reality and personality disappears, all property henceforth descending in the same way. Tn the absence of a will, the widow or widower will be equally treated, receiving all tho personal furniture, jewels or motor ears, plus one thousand sterling. If there is any residue the widow or widower gels half for life. The remainder is to bo divided equally among the children.

Many of the former complications of intestacy disappear. If an heir as eloso ns a, cousin cannot bo discovered, all tho intestate’s land goes to the Crown. This will prevent the formerly numerous claims bv distant relatives from overseas. MURDER OF THE CZAR, EXAMPLE OF BOLSHEVIK CALLOUSNESS. LONDON. Jan. 2. The “Times” Riga correspondent says the Soviet authorities at Leninfor the first t imo. published the details of the murder of tho Imperial Family in 191 S. Hitherto only the shooting of the Czar had been officially admitted. Tfie Soviet account states that during the Czar’s imprisonment at Ekaterinburg he was strictly guarded, even lieing forbidden to approach the windows lest he should exchange signals with the people outside. Tho Central Government originally intended that the Czar should have a public trial with Trotsky as prosecutor, but, on the twelfth July, it was decided to shoot immediately without trial. Trusted Communists were instrurtod to assist the guards in the shooting. At in ill night the Royal Family and four attendants were told to dress and proceed to the basement because a. AYliite army intended to bombard the house. None of them suspected treachery.

Oil reaching the basement, the Commandant read out tho Soviet’s sentence and all seemed stunned; only the Czar spoke. He said: “So you are not taking us anywhere.” Shooting commenced preventing further speech. Tho bodies were destroyed next day and a week later tho AYliite army arrived.

EDITOR'S DEATH AT 82. LONDON. Jan. 2

Obituary—Sir John Be Sage, former editor of (he “Daily Telegraph." aged oightv-1 wo. RECORD BANK CLEARANCES. LONDON. Jan. 2. Despite trade conditions, a record was broken bv last year's bank clearings which totalled £10,137,000.000. which is an increase of £901.000.000. The annual statement attributes the increase to signs of an increase in commercial banking turnover, especially after the embargo on overseas loans was removed. New issues totalled £221,000.000, an increase of £12,000,000. QUAKES IX ITALY. ROME. Jan. 2. Two violent earthquake shocks were felt at Venice last, night, lasting for twelve seconds each. There was a violent tremor at 1 rioste. hut there are no details of the damage. FOG IX VENICE. ROME, Jan. 2. Venice is wrapped in a thick log, which was suddenly illuminated by flashes produced by the destruction ol the electric wires. A crash of stones followed when the people became seized with panic and many fled from the cinemas and theatres, which, vote crowded at tho time.