GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1927, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

Telegraph—Per Press Association.!! BERLIN, Dec. 27. Skjellerup’s comet was sighted by Potsdam Observatory and Bergerdorf Observatory (Hamburg), where it is regarded as identical with the periodic comet discovered by Dcvico in 1844. Potsdam is inclined to agree, arguing loss of the Device comet was probably due to it being deflected from its regular orbits by planetary disturbances. Hamburg Observatory reports the apparent course of the comet is somewhat different from what observations in the Southern Hemisphere suggested v as the comet did not come as far into the northern sky as anticipated. When last seen at Hamburg, it was only 12 degree's above and was* - difficult to distinguish bv the naked eye. but a telescope showed the diabolo shaped mass forming head and marked tail two degrees long, pointing upwards and to the right.

THE POPE’S MESSAGE. ROME, Dec. 26. The Pol*?, answering Christmas greetings from the Sacred College, said that his heart was filled with sorrow by the cruelties and atrocities happening in Mexico, Russia and China. Another reason for sorrow was the situation in France', where there were being made accusations which, lie thought, were inspired by political rather than by religious motives. PARLIAMENT OF JAPAN. TOKIO, Dec. 26.

Following a year’s mourning for the late ruler, ending oil Sunday, the Emperor. in person, opened the Tket, driving in the greatest pomp seen for many years, through streets gay with New Year decorations, but cleared of all people except at intersections. For tlie fii-st time in many years, the Emperor personally read his message, while gold-emblazoned State coaches superseded automobiles, adding brilliancy to the parade. The message of the Emperor rejoiced that Japan’s foreign relations were on the footing of ever-increasing friendship. CHRISTMAS MAIL TRAGEDY. LONDON, Dee. 28. An auxiliary postman was found at Upper Cwmbran, Monmouthshire, with Christinas mail' still strapped on his shoulders. He was evidently trying to reach an isolated farm, and fell into a snowdrift and died. A thousand people are homeless in Canterbury, owing to floods in the River Stour. Tlie inhabitants were without food supplies or fires, until parties arrived in boats and rescued them through bedroom windows. One lady of 86 was thus lowered from a window into a cart.

Wi -D WEATHER IN EUROPE. BOMBS USED TO BREAK ICE DAM. PARIS, Dec. 27. Wild weather, accompanied by snowstorms and cyclones continues in many of the Northern countries. The most serious floods are reported in Serbia, Greece, Spain and other counties. Ail express train from Paris to Marseilles was derailed as a result of floods but no one was hurt. Artillery fire and bomb.s dropped from aeroplanes are being employed to break an ice jam which is damming the Danube below Bratislava, doing immense damage to shipping amt wlia rves.

A CAR-MAKER’S VIEW. LONDON, Dec. 27. Mr Morris, the motor-ear maker, in a speech to his staff-.at Coventry, said: —“ The number of unemployed in Britain is a curse and a danger.” He said be was convinced that if the manufacturers were protected, the demand for labour would exceed the supply. The Americans, who were the richest people in the world, and were not the biggest fools, had the highest tariffs. Britain, with the best working conditions in the world, had a million and a quarter unemployed. LONDON’S PIGEONS. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). LONDON, Dee. 23.

Christmas season witnessed an openair pantomime, around St. Paul’s, where two thousand surplus pigeons condemned by city dignatories, resolutely refused to die. St. Paul’s pigeons, are wily birds for whom sentimental Londoners have a deep affection. 'l’hus when complete trappers arrived full of optimism with corn to entice the birds to their gilded cage, the pigeons held a mass meeting around piles of corn, and bread distributed in safer places hv elderly spinsters, who withered the trappers through poised lorgnettes. The result was no birds, but the trap, pers urged by warrant “of the city of London, re-appeared on the holiday and rounded hundreds. These turned o«; to he the healthiest and adept at hustling the weaker birds aside, obtaining corn. This was not desired. Thus to-day there were new methods, luring away the decrepit pigeons and seizing them until two bags were filled with the lame and halt. This method will take years, hut Londoners seemed determined that no pigeon shall go into the cage.

AMUNDSEN CRITICISED. LONDON, Lee. 28. Surgeon-Commander Alurray Levick, who accompanied Scott’s expedition, in a letter regarding Amundsen’s uiisportsiiinnsliip emphasises that Amundsen’s success was due to information gained from Shaekleton’s anc! Scott’s former attempts. Moreover Scott frankly discussed his plans with Amundsen before starting. KING’S ESTATE. BUCHAREST, Deo. 23. The Court endorsed the division of the late King’s estate valued at half a million sterling, equally among five beneficiaries, including Prince Carol. YTHIT AGAINST A NOSE.

NEW YORK. Nov. 2. Hollywood yesterday had recourse to the Superior Court to prevent a popular actor from changing the shape of his nose. The result of its action, which is unique in the history of litigation, was a temporary injunction by the' terms of which Air Louis Wqlheirn will 7 !>e guilty of contempt of court if he attempts to tamper with his proboscis before to-

morrow week. Air Wollieim lias what is described as a mis-shapen nose, and as the result of it a, “hard boiled” face, to which the United Artists Corporation, to whom he is under contract, attribute his success as “The Hairy Ape ” and as Captain Flagg in the American war film “ What Price Glory ? ” But he aspires to more romantic impersonations. Recently lie announced his intention of visiting a famous plastic surgeon to have his nose modified. The United Artists Corporation, however. declared that the proposed surgical operation would jeopardise the success of a new film on which £200,009 has already been expended. The court fixed to-morrow week as the date on which AH Wollieim may if he chooses, appear to show cause why the injunction shall pot be made permanent,