BRITISH X FOREIGN HEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1926, Page 2

BRITISH X FOREIGN HEWS

{Australia & N.Z. Cable Association. PACIFIC CABLE BOARD. ■ LONDON, January 11. Mr Percy Hunter has accepted the position of Australian and New Zealand manager for the Pacific Cable Board. KING OF HKDJAZ. JEDDAH, Jan. 11. Ibn Sand lias been proclaimed King of Hedjaz at Alccca, following on the abdication of Hussin Ibn Ali, cabled on Dec. 20th. FRENCH POLITICS. SOCIALISTS’ DEMANDS. PARTS, Jan. 12. The Socialist Party Congress voted 1766 to 1331 in favour of participation in the Government, provided the- party secures a majority of the portfolios as well as tho choice. ICE-BOUND SHIPS. A GREAT DISASTER. LONDON, Jan. 12. The “Daily Express’s*’ Riga torrespondenb says: “One of the greatest maritime disasters in the history of the Baltic is now taking place among 25 freight steamers which are frozen in the Gulf of Finland. Two of the ships have already boon crushed, and two others are in a most dangerous ; position, and have been abandoned by their crews.

It is feared that German ships from Kiel will lie unable to rescue the stranded crews, and they may even he caught in the ice themselves. Of FEN MAKGHERITA. f ROME, Jan. 11. ’the tuneral ol the Dowager Queen Margherita was the most imposing one ever accorded to an Italian Queen. '] he Queen was buried at the Pantheon by the side of King Victor Emmanuel, and King Humbert. The Government intended that the ceremony should tie a fresh dedication of the country’s attachment to the dynasty of Savoy. The funeral train left Bonlighera on Sunday morning. Every station for five hundred miles along tlie route was crowded with people anxious to pay a last tribute. ROME, Jan. 11. Half a million people, many weeping, lined Hower-strewn streets, kneeling and praying, as Queen Marghcrita’s funeral passed, and everyone wore a marguerite. SHIPPING- STRIKE VOLUNTEERS. LONDON, Jan. 11. Three hundred shipping strike volunteers from New Zealand are being returned in large batches by outgoing steamers. All "ill be repatriated by March. Sir James Allen is seeing that none suffer any hardships. REPARATIONS LONDON, Jan. 11. A statement has been issued hy the Agent-General for Reparations in regard to the‘Working of the Dawes plan tor the year 1925. The statement shows items as follows: Cash available £488,030,01)0 France’s share 176.1.00,060 British Empire 09,000,000 Italy 22,000,00!) Belgium 35,060,000 Total payments 305,000.0(70 Cash balance at end of year 83.000,000 GERMAN POLITICS JUNDKNBURG .MAY SELECT PREMIER. BERLIN. Jan. 11. President van Hiiiilenburg disciissct the political situation with Dr Fehronback and Herr Koch. Leaders of the Centre Party, and of the Democrat* res) c\lively, and lie asked them to inform him by .January 14th. of the result. of their elfurts to form a big coalition. In llie e v enl of a failure. President Aon llindenburg will take the matter into ids own hands, and will appoint his own candidate.

.MANCHURIA AND CHINA. PEKIN, Jan. 11. It is reported from a Japanese source at Alukden that Chang Tso 1-in has issued a circular telegram, announcing that Alancliuria severed administrative relations and communications witli Pekin. TURK OVER 149 YEARS. LONDON, Jan. 11. A Constantinople message states that Zaro Aglia. who was one hundred and forty-nine years of age in September last, and is reputed to be the oldest man alive (and who in September fully accepted an offer from the Constantinople authorities to join the stall of tbe Hoards at one of tbe Imperial Palaces) lias now lost his position at the Imperial Palaces. He has, however, secured another position as Beadle to the Stamboui Council. Zaro Aglia says that lie feels better able to carry out less strenuous duties. lie lines not eat meat or bread, and lie neither smokes noi drinks. He lias one meal daily, with milk, plenty of sugar, and small cakes. He is still living happily with a wile aged thirty. A cable on September loth last stated: Zaro Aglia enjoys extraordinary health, though bis doctor lias compelled him to forego travelling. lie was mmil aiinoyesl for that reason, as he declared that there would not be much wrong with him if lie had not been compelled to cat quantities ol macaroni in Italy recently. Zaro Aglia lias been married eleven times. His present wife is only thirty years old. Tbe only member of bis family is n son. aged 93 years, who thinks lie is too old to earn liis livelihood. Zaro Aglia states that lie does not see why he should keep bis son. He says; ’’ll 1 can gel a job. be can!” KING’S RIFLE SHOOTING RILES. LONDON. January 12. Tbe National Rifle Association lias altered the King's prize conditions at Bisley and lias introduced an additional ten rounds at the five hundred yards in the second stage. BRITISH TRADE. LONDON, Jan. 13. The Board of Trade returns for December show the value of imports increased by 182,717,030. as compared with December, 1924. The exports decreased by £3,539,000. but the re-ex-ports of colonial and foreign products increased by £2,592,000. Tbe principal increases in imports were £2.789,000 and rubber £5,062,000. Increases in exports included vehicles £1,177,000 and in re-exports of rubber £1.797,000. The principal decreases in imports are:—raw cotton £2,526,000 and in exports, coal £1.296,000 cotton yarns and manufactures £2.069.000, and woollen varus and manufactures £1,391,000.