AMERICAN CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1926, Page 3

AMERICAN CABLE NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

WILKINS’ THREE PLANES LOST. NEW YORK, -March 19.

A -message from Fairbanks, Alaska, states that the last of the three aeroplanes of Captain George Wilkins was Vreekod on Friday. When landing, the gear of the Detroiter three-engine machine buckled, throwing the engine on its nose, and the engine was thrown out and the propellers were bent. The plane was being started on its first- test flight, and it had travelled but forty feet along tho ground, when the mishap occurred. The accident will delay the Milking party from starting the expedition. The Detroiter was scheduled to leave in a day or two for Point Harrow, the Arctic coast supply base of the enterprise. 'On Thursday a singlo engine plane belonging to the expedition was partly wrecked on alighting after a trial, and another was destroyed by fire in Detroit on January 17th last. FURNACE DISASTER. VANCOUVER, .March 20. At Birmingham, Alabama, sixteen men were killed and seventeen severely injured through, an explosion in a furnace to-day at the Woodward Iron Coy., permitting ono hundred tons of molten metal to escape. PROHIBITION IN U.S.A. NEWSPAPERS TAKE REFERENDUM.

(Received this day at 9.30 a.mA NEW YORK, March 20. Prohibition continues to hold the centre of public interest through the United States for the past fortnight, this being particularly duo to tho nation wide unofficial referendum conducted hy four hundred newspapers which have printed ballots asking readers to express their sentiment on prohibition, namely, repeal, continuation or light wines and beers. Each ballot paper had to he signed.. TJie polls, which closed to-night, show 2,519,958 for repeal or modification and 395,001 for a + continuation of prohibition.

It is expected that when complete and the vote tabulated it will total 3,750,000 and tho same proportion of five to one for a repeal or modification will he shown. The total vote approximates an eigHlli of the Presidential vote in 192-l----and tho wots claim, that it is representative of the popular will. ) The tlrys, who fought the referendum and asked supporters Lo refrain from voting, say tho poll represents only the areas known to he wet strongholds. They allege that if one of every five Americans desires a modification then this sentiment should have long ago been able to bring about a change in the laws.

WORLD COURT RESERVATIONS

WASHINGTON, March 20.

It was authoritatively stated on Saturday that the United States Government does not object to a conference of the nations discussing their reservations to the World Court and does not understand that the conference, as proposed at Geneva, would in any way constitute action on reservation by the League of Nations. If the United States should take part in such a conference it would he on the further understanding that it is not for the purpose of considering the modifications or the interpretation ot reservations as adopted by the Senate. RECORD POLE JUMP. NEW YORK, March 20. Charles Hoff exceeded bis earlier world’s pole vault record for the tenth time when, at the Post Office clerks games to-night, he cleared the bar at thirteen feet seven and a half inches. This does not otjunl his record of 1923 which was 13ft Oifiu. Dcihart Hubbard, a negro, with a leap of 24ft. 7Jin. broke the State broad record established by Hoff on Tuesday. INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC OUTBREAK IN U.S.A. NEW YORK, March 21. With influenza widespread over the North American continents from Canada to Mexico, the health authorities and physicians are making strenuous efforts to control the disease, which, however, is in a milder form than in With deaths tho disease disclosed itself in various forms, two being particularly prevalent, namely, sinusitis wherein muscular and bone pains predominate, and so-called pinkevs, producing a bright and inflame ejes. One town, Pottsville, Pennyslvania. ' reports one thousand cases ot pmkeys and pbvsieians are puzzled as to treatment for the pneumonic complications arising from influenza are fewer than in 1920, but are continuing to mCI HMie soft coal smoke, as a result of the eoal strike, is said to have aggravated the influenza complaint, wlncii, in some cities has reached epidemic Pr The r New York Health Commissioner, « Doctor Harris, says the disease is not V vet epidemic here, hut the tortmg pneumonia and influenza deaths totalled 1257. -