MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1926, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] j

PRIDE OF GERMAN FLEET. LONDON, Feb. 10.

Operations will begin on Ist March to raise the pride of the ex-Kaiser’s fleet, the battle-cruiser H Oldenburg, from Seapa Flow and are expected to occupy six months. Twelve divers will tunnel beneath the cruiser and seal the eight seacocks. They will then make the portholes watertight, after which forty pumps are expected to empty the cruiser in twelve hours and she will float by her own buoyancy. Afterwards the cruiser will he handed over to the shipbreakers.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS BARRED. LONDON, Feb. IG. The Russian Catholic Bishop of Nottingham has banned all public amusements during Lent, including -. dancing, music halls, theatres and Ay cinemas. He says the duet danger to which all are exposed is worldliness. This is manifested in the eager desire for pleasure, such as dancing, theatres, pictures, cards and games of all sorts, which, though excellent as occasional recreations, tire unfortunately apt to become positive dangers. LABOUR FRONT BENCHERS. LONDON, Feb. 10. The Labour Party has promoted Messrs Lansbury, Smillie, Lee. Smith and Dalton to he front benchers. AFRICAN WIATTON (TERMAN. CAPETOWN. Feb. 10. , South Africa will probably soon have the distinction of being the only British Dominion to run civil aviation by German machines financed l>y a German firm. The Union invited tenders from overseas based on a subsidy of eight thousand annually which will ho embodied in next year’s estimates. British firms offered to tender provided a subsidy of forty-five thousand was given. The Junker Coy. tendered and the Air Board decided the machines were suitable, but stipulated the. service was not to begin, until South Africans were trained to fly them. In H’e event of war the Government will commandeer the machines. The contract will Lo reviewed at the end of the year. The framing of the ■ contract was delayed owing to the > Junker Coy. not responding to the cable for guarantees. Tlie public is asking if the German Government is subsidising the service. OXFORD POLL. LONDON. Feb. 10. At the Oxford union poll cabled on the 11th, the motion was defeated by 403 to 307 thus supporting the Chancellor’s action. This will probably end the maHer. PRINCE CAROL’S ABDICATION. BUCHAREST. February RL Refutation of earlier stories of preaW sure to abdicate is contained in Prince Carol’s letter to the head of Hie Church, stating lie abdicated of his own volition. FEEDING THE DEAD. LONDON. Feb. 10.

It is revealed that tit Torquay a woman had been in the habit of providing food for the soul of a departed friend who was buried in the vault at Paignton cemetery. Recently the vault was sealed up hut the woman erected an awning to keep from the sight of the curious the food which always consisted of a sumptuous meal of game, joints, fancy cakes, fruit and flowers. What happened to the food in the past can only he conjectured. Friends of the dead woman have now obtained permission from the Home Office to remove the body elsewhere.

II IXDKNBURG’S SALARY. BERLIN, Fell. 17. Ilindeuburg’s salary has been raised to three thousand sterling annually with six thousand sterling expenses. This is many thousands below the Presidents of other Republics. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTS INCAN ADA. OTTAWA, Feb. 10. The Conservative amendment to the / Addles regarding trade treaties was in the House of Commons defeated by 118 votes to 103. The amendment caused considerable discussion on the recent trade agreement with Australia. The -Government received the solid support of the Libedal, Progressive and Labour groups. Just before the vote, the Conservative Leader, All- Afeiglian, declared unit the treaty exposed practically all the farming population of Canada to unlimited competition from a country which was almost the largest exporter of meat in the world, anil one of the largest exporters of dairy produce. He believed that, since the treaty became effective, more butter had come Canada in a month than foreinerlv en- • lered the country in a rear.

(J KRAI A X Y’S DELEG All ON. BERLIN, Feb. 17. The German delegation to the Leagut' Assembly will consist of Dr Stresemaun with Herr Gaits ns legal adviser and Herr Conschubert, (Secretary of State). COTTON BROKER’S CAREER. LONDON, Feb. 17. Fearing a capital levy Air Harold Rush worth Howler, a cotton broker, aged 3.7. admitted at his examination in bankruptcy at Liverpool that ho had realised his investments and placed eighty thousand sterling in banks and on safe deposit. He had never disclosed this to the Income Tax authorities. lie started his career with ten shillings weekly, and began business on his own account in 1920. Tie amassed a quarter of a millions poitiiJ,s as a result of successful deals. He lost one hundred and eighty thouand pounds in twelve months through cotton speculation. Now the deficiency is '£103,090. while his assets are below five thousand. The case was adjourned..

ANOTHER -MANSION BURNED. LONDON, Feb. 17. A second country house fire within a few days broke out in Bennaec Hall, in Suffolk, the ancestral seat of Sir Thomas Gooch, who. with his wife, soil and daughters, helped to remove the paintings and furniture. The Haines lit up the countryside. GERA!AN EX-HOYAT.TST CLAIMS. BERLIN. Feb. 10. The Government accepted a proposal for a plebiscite of the people on the ex-Kaiser’s claims. THE CAMBRIDGE EIGHT. LONDON, Feb. 10. Tito composition of the Cambridge crew was finally selected yesterday, when five new Blues v.vre awarded, includißS Bell