BRITISH £ FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1926, Page 2

BRITISH £ FOREIGN NEWS

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] AX APPOINTMENT. LONDON, September 21. Thomas V. Griffiths, who holds distinguished scholaristic and musical degrees has been appointed lecturer to the School of Music at Christchurch and teacher of the Training College. SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG. CAPETOWN, Sept. 20. Malan (Minister of the Interior) in an interview said the flag referendum, would certainly require an absolute nn joritv. The result would not affect the position of the Government. If it went ' against the Government they would not raise the question again. Referring to the proposal to include a crown, he said ho did not think it would be received ’ with enthusiasm by bis people, though there was no reason to believe it would bo unacceptable in the present circumstances. From a constitutional point ’ of view there is nothing wrong with the I Crown being part of South African constitution, neither was it contrary' to '. the Nationalist Constitution, who rocognised the existing relations with the United Kingdom. There is no grievance against the Crown, as such, and he thought it would make a bridge ! upon which South Africans of all par- : ties could meet. It is stated that the Labour Party approves of a referendum. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. LONDON, Sept. 20. A messago from Ottawa states that MV MacKcnzio King has intimated that ho cannot attend the Imperial Conference unless it is postponed till November. Ho expects to assume the Premiership on Friday; ■ then lie must return to his constituency of Prince Albert for re-election the sumo as other Ministers in the by-elections. He says:—“l wish to be firmly seated n.s Prime Minister, in fact as well as in name before proceeding to London.” The “Daily News” is authoritatively informed t/hat the conference opens on the 19th of October, irrespective of Mr King’s presence or absence. • ' A LIVE WHALE. LONDON, September 20. A whale weighing one and a-lialf tons has been washed ashore at Marblethorpe. in Lincolnshire. It has provided the Midlands with a sensation. The Natural History Museum, realising the scientific interest of a live whale, sent an official to bring tile animal to Kensington, oil a lorry. Intense excitement was aroused, in the villages en route. Thousands of the inhabitants turned out, one or two asking: “Can we give it a loaf of bread? ” “ Has it’ been run over? ” and other strange questions. The whale, meanwhile, was blowing every sixteen seconds. Finally it died when it burst a blood vessel thirty miles from London, after a t’lirce-day’s journey, which is easily a record. Most whales have died an hour after they 'have left the water. The members of the R.S.P.C.A. arc, very indignant, alleging cruelty- to tin* whale. M ; DIVORCE SUIT. f BERLIN, September 20'. F Princess Sophie Charlotte is suing the ex-Kaiser’s second son, ex-Prince ' Gitcl Frederick-, for a divorce. She alleges incompatible temperaments, rendering married life impossible. It has been common knowledge that the ! marriage has been an unhappy one, since its beginning 20 years ago. Roth parties deny their desire is to marry again. ‘ * A FAILURE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) CAPETOWN, Sept. 21. It is reported that Elandsputte which Was the scene of one of tile biggest ’ diamond rushes in the history of ' South Africa a few months ago is now practically abandoned. «, GORHAM’S PROGRESS. . CALCUTTA, Sept. 21. 1 Cobliam has left for Allahabad. f LLOYD’S SHIPBUILDING REVIEW. 1 LONDON, ' Sept. 21. . Lloyd's Register of Shi piling states:* ! “The coal stoppage, lias caused a ser- > ions falling off in the new work eoml ing forward. Plans passed during the year ending last June for 361 > new vessels of a gross tonnage of 1,089,300, which is substantially below the total for thy previous year. Sixtyeight per cent, of these will be built in Great Britain and Ireland. Although there is a decline*in the total projected building, the amount to he built at Home shows an increase of 13 per cent. The tonnage of merchant vessels afloat on June 30th., last holding Lloyd’s certificates was 29,172,098 toils, the‘highest on record, and of these Great Britain and I rein ml own L9S7 vessels (tonnage 13,834.007), the Dominions 58 vessels (tonnage 1,322,820), and other countries 4,002 vessels (tonnage 14,015,205). The rapid iregress in the construction of motor ships continues. There are now 2343 such ships on the register, of a total tonnage of 3,493,284 including 45 each exceeding eight thousand tons. Lloyds’ refrigerating certificates are held by 378 ships totalling 70,000,000 cubic, feet of insulated space. FRENCH AIRMAN’S RECORD. PARIS, Sept. 20. The French airman, Derque, in a seaplane with a load of five hundred kilos, attained an altitude of 5,475 metres. This is a world’s record'for a seaplane. THREAT tO CONSULS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Sept. 21. Following on an attack on an American gunboat, Chang Kaishek commanding the Red force, advised foreign warships of all nations to proceed down stream away from the war zone, to avoid a misunderstanding. Foreigi) Consuls replied that the warhsips were necessary to protect foreign lives and property particularly in view of the increasing anti-foreign feeling, as a result of Red propaganda. Chang is reported to have threatened the Consuls and delivered an ultinuim prohibiting foreign warships remaining in Hangkow waters any longer, and merchant men under any flag during the hours of darkness. He also ordered that during tlio daytime merchamships must submit t*> a search bof<df» proceeding through the wnr zo"c, otherwise they will he shelled b.v shore batteries. Consuls and naval 'commanders of various powers are reported to have agreed upon a policy of defence. N.S.W. TOUR OF OLD COUNTRY. LONDON. September 21. The English Rugby Union are arranging for the New South Wales footballers to travel first class by the steamer and trains on their English tour. It is estimated that the total expenses of the tour will lie £16.000. Fourteen matches will he played in England, eight in Wales, four in Scotland. and two in Ireland, including international matches in each country.