NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1929, Page 2

NEWS BY MAIL.

HUGE HALL BURNT. THE HAGUE, (Holland,) May 17. The Paleis voor Volksvlyt (Palace of Industry), one of the landmarks of Amsterdam, was totally destroyed by fire early this morning. It is the largest exhibition hall in Holland, containing, apart from a vast exhibition hall, a theatre and a number of cafes.

The fire had gained a strong hold on the inner structure when discovered, and as the outer shell was chiefly of iron and glass the firemen were almost powerless.

' Fortunately the palace is isolated from other important buildings by its own garden and a public square in front of the main entrance, and it was possible to prevent the flames from spreading.

The outbreak is believed to have originated in a kitchen of one of tho cafes or in the theatre auditorium.

The members of a revue company which played in the building last night have lost all their costumes and scenery. Another company which had been engaged to produce Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” also lost much of its property. The building was. completed in 1861. Its height, to the top of its dome, was 190 ft. It had been the scene of many great events in Dutch history.

CniEF. OF CHICAGO’S GUNMEN

NEW 7 YORK, May 17

“Scarface” Capone, the millionaire gunman of Chicago and Miami, Florida, is serving a year’s imprisonment in Philadelphia for carrying a revolver in that city.

It lias always boon liis boast that he carried a gun because he was marked for death, but when he pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon Judge Walsh imposed the maximum penalty under the Pensylvania statutes. TAMMANY LEADER. NEW YORK, May 10. The election of Mr John F. Curry as the new leader of Tammany Hall, tho headquarters of the New York Democratic Party, is regarded as a return to the Tammany’s old policy of “spoils for the vidtor.

It is a blow at Mr Al. Smith influence as ex-Govcrnor of Now York, and means the close of Tammany’s efforts to move in national politics. It is a victory for Mayor ‘Walker, who becomes perhaps the strongest politician in Tammany Hall. The first words Mr Curry said after his election were to the effect that Mr Walker could be mayor of New York again if be wished to be renominated. Mr Ourry is, of course, an Irishman, and in the days of his youth he watched his father’s cattle as they grazed on Manhattan’s open fields. He is 56 years of age, quiet in manner with white hair and lively blue eyes. But he has made his way by rebellion against established authority in Tammany Hall, and Jive years ago was called the Trotsky of 14th-street, where the old headquarters stood. He wields a mighty pen of fierce invective, and lias a wonderful gift of making friends, but lie never takes drink. Early in, his political career he introduced the Bill for 5 cents fares on New York’s underground railways —the fare which won such a signal victory a few days ago in the United States Supreme Court.

AIR BOMBARDMENT. GENEVA, May IG. The Preparatory Disarmament Commission to-day rejected the proposal of Count Bcrnstorff (Germany) prohibiting the n.se in warfare of poison gas bombs dropped from aeroplanes and aerial bombardment in general on the ground that this was a legitimate method of defence which could only be regulated at the main Disarmament Conference. M. Massigli (France) reminded Count Bcrnstorff that there were other weapons, such as Big Berthas (the great German gun which bombarded Paris), employed against civilian populations during the last war. FORGER’S GIRL DUPES. PARIS, May 10. A f Belgian named Leon Martin Pillyser, who was arrested in a Montmartre cabaret last night, is alleged to have had 020 spurious bank-notes of 1,000 francs each sown inside the lining of his clothes. Pillyser, who is an engraver, is said to have confessed that he engraved the notes himself. His method of disposal, he is stated to have explained,

was to hand over the notes to young women encountered at fashionable dance halls, with the instruction to buy themselves a present and return to him with the change. The women generally spent most of the notes before returning. PilJvser, it is alleged, received in return, however, a certain number o( genuine notes without running the risk of being arrested for trying to utter false money. It was one of his unsuspoetwl agon is, it is added, who gave him away when 'tendering.a note in payment lor a pair of dance shoes., PKKK’S it 101 K IM PIOKSONATIOD. BOMBAY, May 10. A man charged al Poona under several aliases with forgery, impersonation and cheating, told the judge that lie was the Hon. ltaymond Addington, brother and heir-presumplive of Viscount Sidmoulh. He slated that he had been falsely charged and complained that while in gaol he had been denied tobacco, wine and other luxuries to which lie was accustomed. An Indian money-lender declared in

evidence that the man lmd represented himself as a captain in the 9th Lancers and secured a loan of £G'!. Tlie staff at Poona stated that the man appeared dressed as a British officer, hut lie suspected that lie did not bclon<.>; to t lie Army. Ai * this point the accused shoided, “I didn’t helonptii thiC Knylish Army. I’m an Irishman.” ,