MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1927, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association. THE AIOTOR. RIDERS. LONDON. March 15. Advice from Constantinople show Ellis and Dirties .arc the first to get a car through from London during the winter time. Officials were surprised at their success as it had been regarded us virtually impossible to negotiate tho deep mud of Thrace and snowdrifts in the notorious Dragoman Pass, especially as tlie men were travelling m one of the worst weeks that Europe experienced this winter. They had to risk tlie ear on a frozen river several times without a knowledge of the depth. They, would have to fall if the ice broke. The actual running time to Constantinople was sixteen and a half days which is believed to ho a record for any time of tlie year. It is considered there is a good chance of clipping off a few days from the best London and Quetta time, which at present is eighty days. The negotiation of snow, mountains and roadless swamps aro not the only part of the adventurous ride. Customs regulations on scores of borders entail long inquisitions by officialdom and language difficulties have to bo overcome. Many of those responsible for the delays display tho utmost courtesy in those countres where there are British Consular representations.

CINEMA FILMS BILL. LONDON, March 15. The Labour Party decided to oppose

the Cinematograph Films Bill. Mr MacDonald moves an amendment welcoming tho restriction of blind booking which gives British producers :a fair field, but objecting to compulsion of British traders to supply goods irrespective of the comparative merit and customers demand. SHARE QUOTATIONS. LONDON. March 15. The P. and O. deferred stock £154; Dalgety’s shares £l4 17s Gd, debentures £75 10s. SHIPPING MO A'EM ENTS. LONDON. March 15. Arrived —At Antwerp, . .1 ort M.uQuarrio; at Colon, Tainui. Sailed lor New Zealand from Balboa, Tamm; from San Francisco, Crosskeys. BE A-AL WIRELESS PASSES TEST. LONDON, March lu. The engineers have issued preliminary certificates oi the biTun. wireless system’s efficiency, whereupon fifty per cent of the pAirchase money will he paid to Marconi’s. Until negotiations between the British and Commonwealth Post Offices and the Amalgamated AVirelcss over the tauif is completed the opening ol the service cannot be fixed; but it is not hkel> to be later than 23rd of March. there are some hopes that the rates will not bo as high as the contract provides. The liner, Jervis Bay has reached London. She repeated the teat ol keeping in touch with Australia b> short wave wireless throughout the voyage.

INTERESTING LETTER. LONDON, March 15. A letter written by Nelson to one of his captain’s a week before the battle of Trafalgar was purchased at Christie’s by -Moss Davis anil is being presented to Auckland (New Zealand) through the lion. James 1 an, who suggests its inclusion in the manuscripts at tho Auckland Public Lib-