BRIEF ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 189, 12 May 1928, Page 10

BRIEF ITEMS

FROM FAR AND NEAR

Australia-Canada Beam Service. —Tha commercial service of beam wireless between Australia and Canada will commence within a few days.—Press Assn.

Fruit Export Season.—The Nelson fruit exporting season is expected to close some time towards the end of next week.

Steamer Refloated.—A Press Association message from Thursday Island says that the steamer Hyacinthus has been refloated and she is continuing on her voyage.

Annexation of American Samoa.—The United States’ Senate passed the Bingham resolution for the annexation of the American Samoan Islands, ratifying the Act of Cession made by native chieftains many years ago.—Australian Press Assn.

Small Boat Capsizes.—A small boat capsized in Evans Bay between the Miramar wharf and the western shore at about 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. . Its single occupant, a youth of about 18 or 19 (whose name is unknown), swam to the shore, about 200 yards away.

Doctor Charged with Manslaughter.— Dr. Barton has been arrested at Parkes, New South Wales, and charged with manslaughter in connection with ' the death of Mrs. Cross, in whose tonic he inadvertently mixed- strychnine for quinine.—Press Assn.

Drug Seller Heavily Fined.—At the Sydney Police Court, May Smith, 46, was fined £250 for having cocaine in her possession. The police declare that she is a notorious drug-seller. The penalty in default was twelve months in gaol.— Press Assn.

Mutiny on a Steamer.—Mutiny broke out aboard the steamer Clan Mac Neil, well known in Australia, says an Australian Press Association message from Brussels. The Lascars, although their contracts were not completed, demanded pay at Antwerp, with the intention of leaving the ship. Violence met the refusal, and the first and second officers were injured. The police were unable to board a foreign vessel, and summoned the British Consul-General. The ringleaders were arrested.

Clear Titles to Land.—While giving evidence before the Otaki Rating Commission yesterday, the Otaki Town Clerk (Mr. A. Wilson) said that owing to the extreme difficulty in getting a clear title, Europeans usually steered clear of buying lands iu the borough. Numerous in. stances of this had come under his notice.

Canada’s Trade.—The total trade of Canada for March was approximately 230,000,000 dollars, against 176,500,000 dollars for February. Imports were 120,500,000 and exports 107,000,000 dollars. The total trade for twelve months was 2,359,412,763 dollars, against 2,298,465,647 dollars for the preceding year.—Australian Press Assn.

British Students’ Tour of Dominions. —An Australian Press Association message from London states that the Overseas Settlement party of university men and public schoolboys to tour the Dominions, including New Zealand and Australia, will sail for South Africa on June 1, leaving Cape Town for Australia by the Demosthenes on July 20.

New Australian Cruisers.—Mr. Bruce announces that Australia’s new cruisers, the Australia and Canberra, are to have long test voyages in order to be thoroughly tried out, the itinerary to include New Zealand. It is proposed that the Australia should leave Portsmouth at the end of July. The Canberra leaves at the beginning of December. —Press Assn.

Guilty of Grave Charges.—The trial of John George Furey, who was defended by Mr. E. A. Keesing, and who pleaded not guilty on Thursday to three charges of abetting a serious crime by a male person, was concluded in the Supreme Court yesterday. After a retirement of an hour and 35 minutes, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all charges, and accused was remanded for sentence by Mr. Justice Smith till 10 a.m. to-day.

Raphael’s “Madonna and Child.”— The London “Daily Express” states that Lady Desborough sold Raphael’s “Madonna and Child,” known as the large Cowper Madonna, date 1508. The price is in the neighbourhood of £150,000. The name of the purchaser had not been disclosed. —Australian Press Assn.

Bribery Allegations.—A Press Association message from ’Sydney states that in consequence of Mr. Lambert’s allegation, supported by Mr. Cann, that a Labour emissary offered £BOOO for Mr. Lambert’s West Sydney seat for Mr. Theodore, the Federal Labour caucus has summoned Mr. Lambert to attend caucus next Wednesday for examination. It is asking Mr. Lambert to treat the matter as most urgent.

Wireless Telephone from London to Java.—Mr. Leopold Amery, Dominions Secretary, seated in his room in the House of Commons, spoke by wireless telephone with Mr. Ormsby Gore, Un-der-Secretary for the Dominions, in Java to-day. Every word was clearly heard. The Dutch Government arranged the conversation, anxious to prove that the beam enables Europe and Java to speak.— “Times” cable.

Advances to Primary Producers.— The Acting-Premier of New South Wales, Mr. Buttenshaw, announced in the Assembly that Cabinet had decided to provide funds to enable an enlargement of the limit of advances to primary producers under the Rural Bank Act Ordinary long-term loans would be increased from £1250 to £2OOO, and to facilities for the subdivision of estates for closer settlement the limit would be raised from £2OOO to £3OOO. —Press Assn.

Bidding for British Newspapers.—A United Service message from Loudon savs that the warfare of the Rothermere and Berry newspaper groups is intensifying. Berry’s, outbidding . their rivals, secured several allied Aberdeen newspapers and again outbid. them for two Derby papers. Rothermere’s increased bid arriving after the Berry bid was accepted. Lord Rothermere retaliated by buying the opposition Derby newspapers, which support the Liberals’ policy.

Sale of Commonwealth Line. —Sir Owen Cox, interviewed by the Australian Press Association, said that it was too early to estimate the effect of the sale of the Commonwealth Line on Australian shipping. Nevertheless, he was satisfied that the price paid was reasonable, and that the line was now in good hands. The better results could be expected. The line should now be conduct: ed without friction, and without imposing any more hardship upon the people of the Commonwealth than under the previous ownership. State ownership of shipping had repeatedly .proved a mistake.

Denunciation of Corruption.—Before a gathering of most eminent business men, including Mr. Rockefeller, jun., and Mr. Owen Young, at the general session of the United States Chamber of Commerce, a resolution was introduced denouncing “all those who indulge in commercial and political corruption,” declaring that they should be purged from the ranks of American business and “the moral turpitude of corruptors of public servants is even greater than those whom they debauch.” —Australian Press Assn.