BRIEF ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 98, 24 January 1928, Page 10

BRIEF ITEMS

FROM FAR AND NEAR Protest Against Arms Smuggling.—The Little Entente is lodging a protest at Geneva on Monday against arms smug, gling by Hungary, aijd pointing pul that under tho peace treaties permissiol must' first be obtained. —Press Assn. Casino at San Remo—By the Kiug’i decree a compajiy with a capital of two millions sterling will build a luxurious casino at San Remo as a rival to Monte Carlo, whither Italians are forbidden to go since Signor Mussolini has been in power, says a Press Association message from Rome. Japanese Politics.—The Japanese Diet having been dissolved, Baron Goto, who has been on a month’s visit to Russia, has left Moscow on his way back to Tokio.—Press Assn. ‘ N.S.W. Legislative Councillor Dead.— Mr. William Carey, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, and a stalwart of the Labour movement, is dead, aged 44. says a Press Association message from Sydney. Death of Well-known Sculler.—The death of Jack McLean, a former world’s sculling challenger, is announced by a Press Association message from Sydney. McLean atempted to win the sculling championshin in 1891, when he challenged and rowed Stanhury on the Parramatta River. He was 73 years of age at tho time of his death.

Accident .to Indian Princess-.—The Maharanee of Cooch .Behar suffered a serious accident when hunting with the three Princes—the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, and Prince Henry—at the Quorn, Melton Mowbray, where she had taken a house for the hunting season. Another rider came into collision, musing her horse to fall, and the animal rolled on the Princess, severely crushing her. It is feared that her spine is injured.—Press Assn.

Defence of Aden.—An interesting development is recorded by the Colon*J Office, which announces a decision to. transfer responsibility for defence organisation at Aden from the War Office to the Air Ministry. In accordance with this decision, a Royal Air Force officer will be appointed, in April next to nssume the command and administraton of troops in the garrison.—British Official Wireless.

Public Interest in Royal Weddings.— The idea of public interest in Royal weddings is conveyed by a presentation to Crown Prince Leopold of Belgium of a memento of his marriage to Princess Astrid. It consists of 'four huge volumes, comprising as many newspaper articles, reports, and photographs of the wedding as were obtainable, the volumes containing more than seven ..thousand cuttings and 2500 photographs.—Press Assn.

Faraday Medal for Professor Fleming. —The Council of the Institute of-Elec-trical Engineers has awarded to Professor Fleming the Faraday medal for conspicuous service in the advancement of electrical science. Professor Fleming is well known as the inventor of the first wireless valve, and has played a notable part in the development of a great many applications of electrical science.—Press Assn.

Pillion Rider Injured.—While pillion riding on a motor-cycie on the Porirua Road, Porirua yesterday morning. Mrs. 11. C. Jone.-, of 41 Tory Street. Petone, sustained - facial abrasions and slight shock as the result of the vehicle skidding and toppling over into a ditch. After being attended to bv the Free Ambulance, which wes quickly on the scene, Mrs. Jones, was removed to her home.

Remarkable Suicide.—A barber named Krefeld, after pondering suicide . for weeks, laboriously contracted a dug-out, rofed with sandhaes. and with a gooden stairway, witlr sides of sandbags, and when lie was satisfied that it was airtight. placed, three pounds of carbide in a pail, fixed a drin-feed watercan overhead. and retired to a bunk, where ha was asphyxiated. A letter stated that the construction of the death-chamber occupied months of his spare time, and. was expressly designed for the purpose of suicide.—Press Assn.

Balclutha Bovs’ Band.—Tho Balclutlia Boys’ Band, which has been on a four of the North Island as far as Auckland, left Wellington for the South last night. Tho Iwvs, who have created a most favourable impression throughut the tour, returned to Wellington from-Mas-terton on Thursday last, and gave several performances in and around Wellington, concluding with a programme on the beach at Petone yesterday, the performance being a most enioyable' one. The band, which comprised ■2S boys and 5 hand officials, was under Mr. AndrewWard, conductor, and Mr. J, Gold, business manager.

Novel Means of Travelling.—A ton weeks’ tour of New Zealand on a bicycle fitted with a boat has been completed by Mr. Charles Barwell, of Auckland. Mr. Barwell, who is well pnst middie age, considers this means of travelling the best of all. Leaving Auckland on November 27, he proceeded to Taumarunui, launching his boat on tho Wanganui River. Tie negotiated nil the rapids without difficulty, and landed ten miles from Wanzanui. Mr. Baiwell P’°j cycled to Wellington, where he jonwd the steamer to cross Cook Strait. Ha rode from Blenheim to Port Chalmers, and then went inland, making a thorough four of the Cold Lakes district bv boat and cycle. After visiting Mount Cook district,’ he returned Io Wellington. and thence back to Auckland. Th# total cost of the tour was £2O. No usa was made of hotels or boardinghouses, the boat acting as a tent.—Special rice.