BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1926, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

1 Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) £53,000 FOR BIBLE. AHENNA, September 27. The Convent of St. Paul, at Lavant, in Carintiliia, has sold a Gutenburg Vellum Bible to Air Otto Pollbehr, Uis New York collector, for £55,000, a record price for a book. Another copy was sold in May lor £45,000. A TOWN MENACED. LONDON, Sept. 27. The Daily Mail’s correspondent in Vevev reports that with a roar like thunder, a mountain lake, overlooking the Rhone Valley, near St. Alaurico, burst, and an avalanche of rocks and mud pushed the river Rhone half a mile further into the plain, thus sweeping away a railway bridge leading to the Simplon tunnel. A railway official, knowing an express was due at any moment, rushed along the track waving a red flag. The train had a narrow escape from destruction. The driver pulled up m time, but before the train could lie extricated, the avalanche had descended and the engine and several coaches were embedded many feet deep. Troops and firemen were then summoned and they began feverishly felling trees in the hope of stemming the progress of the avalanche. Each hairier, however, as it was erected, toppled over like straw. The town of Lavev I.cs Bains is seriously threatened. The source of the famous thermal springs there is now buried under twenty ieet of mud. A hundred yards of the Simplon line lias been destroyed, and the railway traffic is being diverted via Lotschberg. It is reported that several lives have been lost. WIDE AREAS MENACED. GENEVA, Sept. 27. Wide areas of Switzerland are threatened by floods in the Rhone \ alley, particularly in the Canton of Vula is. A great viaduct, carrying the railway frm Atilan to Lausanne, was damaged, and the traffic on the Simplon line has been diverted. The town of Lavev is completely flooded, and the buildings at the famous thermal springs there have liecn destroyed. Fears are expressed that the springs are damaged irretrievably. An expedition lias been despatched to help the people in the mount-nib village, which has been without light or water for the past two days. The town of St. Maurice is also threatened, and troops and fire brigades have been called out. The river Rhone has at one point completely changed its bed. DOMINION DAY. LONDON, September 27. Dominion Day was hero celebrated by a wireless broadcast, including address by Sir J. Barr, followed by all imaginary tour of New Zealand conducted by Air Drew (Emigration advocate), interspersed with New Zealand songs by -Miss Stella A Dir ray, Air Hubert Carter and .Miss Esther Fisher. The Entiles migration scheme lias Leon rejected as impracticable. "I wish I could transport you to New Zealand to see its scenic wonders really instead of imaginatively.” said Sir J. Barr in his broadcasting address in an introductory reference to the Dominion’s charms, and lie referred to it as having advanced social and industrial legislation. He added that New Zealand spent relatively more money on education than any other country in the world. Nowhere outside England could be found such a jealous adherence to British tradition in all elements of national life, and New Zealand’s trading showing a practical pro- ; British content. If British manufae- [ Hirers did not develop trade in New , Zealand it would be their own fault. HOARDING HABIT. ; DEMONSTRATED IN FRANCE. ; PARIS, Sept. 27. Proof of the French people’s liabifc of hoarding money was furnished by ? a queue of fifteen hundred people 1 who lined up outside the Banque tie i Franco in response to an intimation . of its (willingness to buy gold and silver coins which are precious liecause of present metal values. The ' intimation stated they would bo ' bought “with no questions asked.” Women predominated, and there were many bareheaded country folk carrying market bags. There also , were collarlcss labourers and sma'l ! rentiers, but all classes were represented. The prices given worked out at 114.70 francs for a twenty francs gold coin and 13.25 francs for a five-franc silver coin. The coins sold included sovereigns, dollars and florins. ENGLISH TRAGEDY TNQTJEST. LONDON. Sept. 27. At Hie rest!million of the inquest on the Marshal Is, who were found d'f'd in a burning motor car (as cabled on Saturday), the Police Inspector admitted the police at present lu4d the theory that Marshall committed suicide in the motor car. This theory was supported by the dis- . ‘COvery of a revolver near where tho car was burnt, which has since been identified Ds having been brought by Alarsball three da vs before the fatality. Cartridges, wliicb apparently bad been filed to -fit. tTie revolver, were found in Marshall's house. Marshall's body was found sitting up at the steering wheel, while the position of Airs AEirshall’s body was one of leaning towards her husband. This supported the view that she did li'oF'—— attempt to escape from the ear. A gunsmith gave evidence as to Marshall buying the revolver. Ho was most anxious to get a certificate. He <jiid that he desired the revolver in ease of emergency on His lonely farm. The inquest was adjourned. KAISER’S PALACES. [“Sydney Sun” Cables.] (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON. Sept. 28. Advices from Berlin state that tho tentalive royal property agreement between the ex-Kaiser’s legal advisers and the representatives of the Prussian Government gives the former Royal family one and a half millions sterling cash for several castles land country estates. This requires endorsement by Parliament and the Communists have a’ready announced tlieir opposition. • T" I COOK MEETS CHURCHILL. LONDON. Sept. 28. < Air Cook (Secretary of the Miners’ - Federation) this evening at the House of Commons, had a lengthy talk with ATr Churchill (Chancellor of the Exchequer) The Parliamentary Labour Party do'■idp'L W inform the Council of the Trade Union Congress that all of the members ‘are now available, 'throughout the country, ibr a campaign to aid the miners. LONDON. Sept. 27. Tn t lie House of Commons, the coal debate was adjourned after speeches from Labour members. They placed the responsibility lor the position on the coal owners, and they were seeking information regarding the powers to be given to the proposed tribunii’.s.