BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1927, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS

[llY TET.EOJUrIl — PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

CAPE ALLUVIAL DIAMONDS. CAPETOWN, April 8.

The Government lias tallied a new Precious Stones Bill. This measure practically amounts to the nationalisation of the alluvial diamond industry. It especially prohibits partnerships, syndicates and companies trom operating in any form on the diggings, and provides for the confiscation of the claims already being operated by such combinations.

CAPE SURPLUS. CAPETOWN, April S. In lhe Union Assembly. Mr Smuts, alter making an attack on the Budget, moved that the Assembly should decline to go into eoiiimittee-of-supply until the Government submitted reduced estimates of expenditure, and gave an assurance of reduced taxation, and also an assurance that wage determinations sliall tie confined to industrial centres. Mr Smuts said in three years, the Government’s Budget .surplus has amounted to over two millions sterling, lie complained that the remissions of taxation had only been li.-ill a million.

FRENCH HEROINES. LONDON, April 10.

The King and Queen added the final honor to 1 lie 'French heroines, according them a reception at Windsor Castle, bestowing autographed photographs. Alter tea in the palace, their .Majesties questioned Madame Gilbert and bet - daughter regarding tlieii war experiences, especially iho concealment

of l-'on lor. who was also invited. The vi-ii ir- iu'li' -peeiaiiy gratified because the King and Queen spoke French. I'hc Prince of Walls, who throughout had been keenly anxious that the heroines lie brought to London, motored specially to Windsor Castle to see them. The visitors say they never could have imagined such a reception would be given to ordinary poor working people. They were particularly delighted to see Princess Elizabeth and Princess .Wary’s eldest soil.

PKHLISI! ER DEAD. LONDON. April ID. ObitiiMry I lodger-Williams, the publisher. JAP FINANCIAL CRASH. (Received this day at 0.30 x.m.) TOK.IO, April 10. Tlie entire financial structure is shaking, pending the successful adjustment of Sunzukes conn 111. 'i raders and financiers gloom is deepened by the closing of the sixty-filTh hank with a rjpital of ten million and deposits of thirty millions. A majority of the stock is owned hv Siinxukc-.. The markets are very depressed. Sunzukes representatives assert their ability to honour their liabilities provided the bank extend the repayment period anil other creditors do not press tlio-r claims.

OBIT CARY. LONDON. April In. Ohititiry Karl of Darniey. aged sixty-eight.

GREEK WAR. DEBT. LONDON, April 10

Two days belure tlie Budget. Mi Churchill and the Greek Minister in London signed an agreement fixing the Greek war debt to Britain at £2l.Thk- ()::;> sterling, after allowing interest and damage tlie RritiMi army caused in Macedonia. The debt will he repaid at the rate of two hundred thousand ill |!)28. a quarter of a million in three hundred thousand in BHD. and thereafter three hundred and titty thousand yearly until PJAa and iota hundred thousand until iMHi.

VETERAN (II UIK 11M AN. I.ONDOX. April !J

Doctor F. li. Mayer (.former President of the Baptist Union and ol the National Federation of Free Churches) who is celebrating his liglitietli birthday. received a cheque tor t-'SOO Irom live hundred admirers, also a huge birthday cake and a portable wireless

The Archbishop of Canterbury sent Him a letter saying: " You have years precedence of niyselt. I lie.se days of eventide are solemn. I should like your fellowship in thought ana

prayers.”

AFRICAN SENSATION. CAPETOWN. April 10

A sensational affair is reported from Dowctsdorp, where an explosion of petrol unroofed the town hall. ExMayor Von Maltitz and Rev. \ iljoen accompanied by a man Ortlepp, onteied the office to examine the Town Clerk’s hooks and were severely injured. You Maltitz and Ortlepp succumbed and Viljoon's condition is critical. Yon Maltitz had a knife wound in liis side. The Town Clerk, Delecuw. lias been arrested.

acquitted. VIENNA, April 10. Marek (cabled on the 2nd) was acquitted.

REFUGEES FROM CHINA. TOKYO. April 10. Refugees from China, mainly Japanese, are (locking to Nagasaki. The authorities are providing barracks for accommodation. SWIMMING RECORD. XIAY YORK, April 10. The swimmer Weismuller created another world record for five hundred yards, free style, in 328 2-5 seconds. PRISONER COUNTER REITERS. The secret service operatives of the Federal Government discovered on opening it shop at the State Penitentiary of Mnelester at Oklahoma it had been used to manufacture spurious postal and money orders, a large number of which have been found. It is bi'licvod tlint a trusted prisoner luu. a well-organised staff for printing the counterfeit and for distribution outside. pandit raid. NEW YORK. April 10. Two interesting crime episodes occurred in the United States to-day. Fifteen bandits overcame live watchmen tit tilt Illinois watch company at Elgin works. For three hours with actevleno torches they cut o|kmi the vaults and abstracted gold bullion, estimated at one hundred thousand dollars and escaped in a motor-car. The bandits during the operations compelled the watchmen to telephone liour|v to report to the protective agency that everything was well.