BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1926, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

[Australia it N.Z. Cablo Association.] AFRICAN PARLIAMENT. GOVERNOR-GF.NKHAL’S SI'EECTI. CAPETOWN, Jan. 22. Earl Athlone in opening the Union Parliament .said it was pleasing to note the improvement of the general conditions of the Union. The industrial life of the Union was responding very satisfactorily to the stimulus of the protection policy adopted by the country, and good progress was being made with agriculture. The long continued absence of general rains over the whole country, however, was causing considerable anxiety with regan to this year's Asiatic harvest. Dealing with the Asiatic question the Go vernor-Gonernl’s speech proceeds: “For the purpose of securing healthier relations between various elements of the population and safeguarding the proper, economic development of the country, a Bill will be introduced for the reservation to various classes of persons of areas for residential and trading purposes, and for amending the registration and immigration laws in certain respects.” AVftli regard to the native question the speech says:—“The question has been engaging the serious attention of Ministers. It is felt a speedy solution of this great problem is essential to the well-being of Doth European and native populations in the Union, and Bills will be laid before Parliament during the present session dealing with its more important aspects, but owing to flic weighty character and great national importance of these measures, Ministers do not contemplate proceeding with them beyond the preliminary stage, during the present session.”

FRENCH BOURSE CLOSED. PARIS, Jan. 22. Two different displays of hostility to Doumer’s taxation proposals caused the dosing of the Bourse to-day. Firstly, the bank clerks’ union brought business to a standstill by calling out members as a protest against inereaeul taxation. Then dealers, resenting the tax on payments, declined to operate with the result that the doors were closed. ACROSS ATLANTIC FLIGHT. MADRID, Jan. 22. Commander Franc, head of the Spanish Aviation Forces, and Captain Ruiz Dahls, aboard a twin-engined nllmotal Dornierwal hydroplane, left lelilla this morning on a trans-Atlan-tic flight, to Buenos Aires, calling at Las. Palmas. Ferindo, Noronha, Anernamhuco and Hio dp Janiero. They hope to complete the journey in eight days. The worst stage will be seventeen hundred miles between Las Palmas and' Pernambuco.

HA IR DRESSING CONTEST. LONDON, January 22. The finals in a permanent waving contest will he hold at the National Sports Club on February .‘I, Twentyseven hairdressers from all parts of Britain have entered the preliminary heats, which are now on. Each hairdresser brings his own girl who must he shingled. Speed and perfection are points in the competition. ft is expected the winner will complete a perfect permanent wave in seventy minutes. The judges will lie live of the lending hairdressers. An audieneo of a thousand is expeeted. DRUNK AS A LORD. LONDON, January 21. Lord Sulficld was fined C2, with Co costs for being drunk and disorderly in the West End during the early hours on December 15. The police gave evidence that Lord Suffiold and a party of male friends were refused admittance to a night club, upon which there were disorderly scenes, culminating in the arrests. Lord Suffiold gave evidence that lie. attended a bachelor dinner in honour of a friend about to be married on the following day. He denied drunkenness. A charge of insulting behaviour against the bridegroom-elect, who is a Guardsman, was withdrawn. LOVER OF ANIMALS.

LONDON, January 22. Mrs Sarah Grovegrady. an octogenarian, of CVowhorongh, left £IOO.OOO, ■which is a sixth of her estate, to in- . stitlltions devoted to the rare of dogs, cats and pit ponies, the residue to he , devoted to the creation of an animal benevolent institute. Her will expresses abhorrence at the ■ hilling of creatures for sport, including * fish. ’ LONDON, January 23. 1 Later details of Mrs Grove-orady’s n will show that the residue of her es- 1 tnte is to be devoted to the foundation ofThe Beaumont Animals Benevolent r Society.” Beaumont was the testa- J tor’s maiden name. Tfie will stipulates that the Society 1 shall acquire an island or islands, and, v failing this, a suitable locality on the mainland, to provide a refuge reserva- ‘ tion for all animals, birds and other I creatures not human, where they must r. be immune from molestation and de- ' struction by man.” 1 The Society may establish and endow hospitals anil homes for animals in Britain, provided that no vivisectionfst is associated with the management. i This means that practically the entire fortune of the deceased, totalling half a million, will he devoted to animals protection. i BISHOP WEST-WATSON. 1 LONDON, January 22. 1 Bishop West-Watson, Bishop-Desig-nate of Christchurch, was the guest at a banquet at Barrow-in-Furness. Mr .May. the Deputy-Mayor, paid a tribute to the bishop’s broadmindedness, and. clergymen representing the Anglican, Presbyterian, Wesleyan and Homan Catholic Churches, paid similar tributes. RAILWAYMEN’S wages. LONDON. Jan. 23. The National Union of Railwayman Deleagtes Conference, instructed the executive to open negotiations immediately regarding the wages question. PARTS TRAGEDY. PARIS, Jan. 23. Robert Marge, a former aviator, and H noted French Rugby footballer, and one of the best French sprinters, was shot in his own bachelor flat. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. M. Albert Cancel, the head of a firm of silversmiths, went to the flat, where he found his wife with .Marge. Madame Cancel shrieked and then fainted, and it is alleged that AT. Cancel, who lias been arrested, fired three shots at Marge. CARDINAL MERCTER. BRUSSELS, January 24. Weeping, praying crowds Cardinal surrounded Mercier’s house during his last hours. Mercier received the last sat laments and then said, “Now t am peady to die in peace.”