BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1927, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Qjy TELEGRAPH— -PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.]

FRENCH DIPLOMATS. LONDON, May Brilliant welcomes are being arranged for Al. Doumergue and M. Briand, who are vistiing London to-morrow to Thursday, including a State banquet at Buckingham Palace, dinner at the Foreign Office and luncheon at Guildhall. M. Doumergue will receive the degree of Doctor of Laws at Oxford on Tuesday. The newspapers publish welcomes in French. Diplomatic correspondents attach importance to AL Briand’s discussions with Sir A. Chamberlain on the evacuation of the Rhineland.

PARIS, Alay 15

The newspapers discussing Al. Doumergues visit to London, welcome the opportunity for the re-assertion of the maintenance of the Anglo-1' rencli entente close relations binding the two nations.

ESCAPEE R F.CAPTURED. LONDON, May 15. Coni oil, one of the escapees from Belfast Gaol, cabled on the 9th., was dramatically recaptured in the early hours this morning. Armed police formed a cordon round a house in Lesson St. Belfast, while others dashed into the residence, Conlon awakening to find his bed surrounded. He surrendered quietly. The police are searching for the others who are believed to he hiding in the same area. AIOTOR-CaR INSURANCE,

LONDON. Alay 15

The “ Daily Express ” states, motorcar insurance offices agreed that premiums must he raised, not desiring to make good drivers pay for had by a flat rate increase. Offices are considering a scheme of charging extra permiums cm classes of cars which nectdent statistics show are the woEst*risks. The worst drivers are air force

officers. They seem to lack discretion and sense of speed values ; but they are closely followed by all actors, actresses and bookmakers. Good risks include doctors, naval officers, journalists and shop keepers. Accident figures show women drivers are a twelve per cent worse than men. Large cars were always more carefully driven than small.

PICKWICKIAN CENTENARY. LONDON, Alav 13. To-day is exactly one century after the famous journey in “Pickwick Papers.” Pickwick, Snodgrass and Winkle and the remainder of their friends boarded the coach at the Golden Cross Hotel. Strand, and drove off to Rochester attired exactly as the originals. The horn blew and the four horses clattered and lunged Crowds cheered their progress from Whitehall to Westminster Bridge end thence to Southwark, where at the junction of the New ond Old Kent Roads, the Mayor in liis robes and chains greeted them. Everybody laughed and cheered and waved them through Eltliam into the countryside’s sweet-smelling hedges.

Tse horses were changed at Blendon, where the party was jerked into the present with the announcement, “Aftmhours.” A merry, rollicking party made its way to Rochester, where the robed A layer and Corporation met them an I thousands cheered.

A tankard of ale was served at the Bull Hotel, after which the party had luncheon.

Then they proceeded to a service in the Cathedral, which was attended by Pickwiekians and members of the Dickens Fellowship of London and Rochester.

JAP NAVY MOVE. TOKYO, Afay 10

The Navy is forming a second squadron usable in Chinese waters. Two cruisers, destroyers and significantly a hospital ship arc attached to the squadron.

IN THE COMMONS

(Received this day at 9.30 a.in.)

LONDON. Alay 10.

In the Commons Hon. Amery replying to a question said official communications between South Africa and Britai will be made from July Ist through officials instead of the Gov-ernor-General. On the same date also, Canada will adopt this change. The Imperial Conference decisions had been operating in the Free State since Alnv Ist.