BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1926, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS

fßeuter Telegrams.]

FRENCH DECREE

(Received this day at 10.15 a.rn.) PARIS, Aug. 15

A new decree issued increases the customs duties by thirty per cent., except upon tobaccos, newsprint and celltiloise used in the manufacture thereof, sausages and certain cheeses. Another decree authorizes a duty.of forty per cent, per hectolitre on various minerals oils. ■EGYPTIAN POLITICS. CAIRO, Aug. 15. The wholesale abolition of Egyptian legations and consulates abroad was voted by Parliament a.s a measure of economy. Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, Belgium, Holland, Czoeho-Slo-vakia and Rouniania are affected. INDUSTRY GROUPS.

(Received this day at 10.15 a.in.) PARIS, Aug. 15

French, German Belgium and Luxembourg Metal Industry groups have issued a draft convention whereto the adhesion of two parties is concerned which is at present with-held. It is regarded as certain that the convention does not anticipate any likelihood of restriction of output, Inr rather the introduction of regulations for a more reasonable distribution of production. Quotas of production have been arranged and the proposed output will, be greater than in recent years. An agreement has also been reached on the question of regulation of specialised industries and quota of production is also arranged for Czechoslovakia, Poland, and "certain Austrian industries manufacturing hardware goods. The “Matin’’ states, the British representatives have been kept informed throughout of the course of negotiations and concludes there are special < < i i :

economic reasons obliging British industrialists to hold aloof temporarily } rom this continental combination. BOOK AVORLP SENSATION. ('Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 15. A sensation has been caused in the bdolc world by the sale of a copy of “Pilgrim’s Progress,” sent to .1 sale room by a descendant of Oliver Crorn well who was unconscious it had any value. On examination it was declared by experts to be a first edition, upon which it was sold to Quaritcli, a dealer for £6,800 sterling. Next day ho returned it on account of n discovery of five lines of errata in the last page, which was not present in the only first edition known. Quaritcli said it was the second issue of the honk. Tho final stage of the incident is tho announcement of. a resale to the same buyers at a lower price ms cabled yesterday, though experts are divided on the question whether the errata increases or decreases its value.

KITCHENER MYSTERY. LONDON, August 15. The coffin containing the reputed body of Lord Kitchener was seized after a conference between the War Office and the Admiralty, and will be opened in the presence of a Coroner -tqi and an official inquest will be ‘held too, when Power will lie invited to give evidence upon oath. The position is that while the body was riot in England tho authorities were unable to make inquiries except through official Norwegian channels, which failed to substantiate Power’s claims. An unwholesome controversy, holding all the ingredients of a public scandal, may now ' be settled definitely and the public satisfied, resulting in the final suppression of legends associated " with the fate of Lord Kitchener.