MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1928, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS.

Australian Press Assn.—United Service DICKENS CONTROVERSY. LONDON, Sept. 9. Jude Dickens has reconsidered his intention to traverse charges in Roberts novel. He says, “Having read as much thereof jis is necessary, I have come to the conclusion that the hook is so utterly unwor.thy of the slightest consideration and such a 1 gross travesty that I must decline to serve the author’s purpose by" affording it publicity. I only desire to add, if anyone had dared to publish such a book 58 years ago, when my father died, hundreds of people would have given it .the lie. Unhuppily, they now are dead, and their evidence is not forthcoming. Luckily, having regard to the nature of this book, such evidence is not needed.”

“To this Roberts replied that lie is not surprised that Dickens lias abandoned his previous intention, because lie lias already rebuilt every charge o' inaccuracy. When the existing material was released from the family ban, liis interpretation of ,Charles Dickenscharacter would be found correct. He was accused of had taste in writing a novel around the dead lint it was a legitimate form of historical novel. Moreover, Dickens caricatured Leigh Hunt in Skimpolc, liis own father in Mioawber, liis mother as Mistress Nickelby, and Maria Bcadnell as Flora Finching, when they were alive.

CONAN DOYLE AND SPIRIT WORLD. LONDON, , Sept. 9. “Within three days of his death, Earl Haig sent me a long message from jtho spirit world,” declared Sir Conan Doyle, speaking to a crowded meeting at an International Spiritualist Congress at Queen’s Hall. “I asked his relatives whether they would like to see the message received, but had no reply.” “Haig was a spiritualist and the message contained matter interesting to liis relatives alone, so I cannot help feeling deeply for Haig in the circumstances.” Doyle exhibited a photograph of Haig’s coffin passing through London streets with Haig’s face over the coffin. Ho added that Conrad, a novelist, had also sent messages. It seemed his spirit was uneasy and wanted to link up with the world once more. LONG-JUMP RECORD. PARIS, Sept. 9. At the International Athletic Meeting at Colombo, the Haitian, Gator, who was in second place in the Olympiad established a world’s record long jump of 312} inches. COUNT RANTZAU DEAD. - LONDON, Sept. 9.

Obituary—Count ,Rroe.kd<<rff Rantzau, German Ambassador to the Soviet. He died suddenly in Berlin. It is recalled he was the first. German Foreign Secretary after the war and headed a delegation to Paris.. He refused to sign the Peace Treaty and returned, to Germany where he resigned.

TREASURE HUNT.

NORSEMEN’S HOARD. LONDON, Sept. 8. A treasure hunt will begin in November as the result of Air Frederick Price, of Geelong, Victoria, who left Peel (Isle of Alan) in the seventies, informing the Peel Town Commissioners that when he was exploring some caves he discovered a secret passage leading to the ruins of a. castle. This is distinct from three passages already explored by treasure hunters, inspired by age-long rumours of hoards of the Norsemen who ravaged the British and Mediterranean coasts. The Government lias authorised Air Jehu Douglas, a surveyor, Air Quilliam, town clerk, and Air Iverniodc, an antiquarian, to conduct an organised search, assisted by Mr Price’s plan of the passage.

The occasional discovery of old coins to some degree supports the legend. The castle in 126 G was the stronghold of an Icelandic adventurer, Orrv, a notable looter, and subsequently of Celtic raiders and pirates and eighteenth century smugglers. 'Hie Government liought the building to stamp out smuggling. The ruins stand in seven acres of rocky ground, containing Stone Age earthworks and. burial mounds. PRINCE OF AVALES. VISIT TO SAILOR’S HOSPITAL. i_ AIARSEILLES, Sept. 8. The Prince of AVales drove to the Queen Alexandra memorial hospital for seamen and inspected the wards. He said that lie hoped there would always he friends of sailors who would recognise what the nations and Europe owed to the men of tlio mercantile marine. The Pri lice and the Duke of Gloucester then hoarded the liner Kaiser-!-Hind, cn route for Egypt.

POLA NEGRI IMPROVING. PARIS, Sept. 9. Pola Negri is rapidly recovering. It appears a motor cycle caused the horse to shy. The actress was thrown hard oil the road.