ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 70, 15 December 1928, Page 10

ITEMS IN BRIEF

FROM FAR AND NEAR

Cruiser Norfolk Launched.—The cruiser Norfolk was launched in the Clyde on Wednesday, Lady Leicester performing the naming ceremonyBritish Official Wireless.

Spending Power of the Pound in Britain.— ln the House of Commons the Minister of Labour, Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland, in reply to a question, said that compared with 1914 the spending power of the pound sterling iu 1924 was 11s. 5d., and now 12s. Id. —Aus. Press Assn.

Germany's Unemployed.—Au Australian Press Association-United Service message from Berlin states that the unemployed in Germany in receipt of benefits number 1,030,000, nearly double the December 1927 figures.

The Hanau Scandal— Au Australian Press Association message from Paris states that the amount of money and securities which the "Gazette du Franc” (Madame Hanau’s financial paper) received from clients is stated to total £5,000,000.

Control of Broadcasting in Australia. —Mr. 11. P. Brown, Director of Posts and Telegraphs, stated that the Wireless Advisory Board had completed its scheme for the assumption of control of broadcasting iu Australia by the Federal Government. The private ownership of a monopoly right to broadcast from either an “A” or “B” class station is to cease. —Press Assn.

Beneficial Kains in Queensland.— Graziers in the central and western districts of Queensland are jubilant at the general rains which have fallen in the last few days and are looking forward to a bounteous season. The falls registered up to seven inches. — Press Assn.

Daring Voyage on Hydroplane.— Harry Larsen imide a daring voyage in an outboard racing hydroplane from Sydney to Newcastle in the record time of 3hrs. 55min (states a Press Association message). On the journey Larsen nearly came to grief by striking a shark off Lake Macquarie. The sea was calm for the whole journey.

Motoring More Popular Than Athletics.— The opinion is gaining ground in Sydney that certain classes of sport, including cricket, are losing ground owing to the popularity of motoring among young people, who spend the week-ends in this fashion instead of, as formerly, in the pursuit of healthy athletics.—Press Assn.

Bankrupt Solicitor.— Hector Robert Malcolm, solicitor, for whose arrest a warrant Ims been issued, was adjudicated a bankrupt yesterday by Mr. Justice Frazer (states a Press Association telegram from Auckland). The petitioning creditor was John Arthur Aiderton, on whose account Malcolm held £450. A very large sum is involved in the bankruptcy.

Fares for Emigrants to Canada. —A British Official Wireless message states that as a result of the reduction to £lO of passenger rates for emigrants to Canada, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company has received requests from .sub-agents in all parts of the country to whom inquiries have been made by prospective settlers for information ragarding the. matter.

Typhoid Epidemic.— The typhoid epidemic is still raging at Cloncurry, Queensland. Four deaths occurred on 'Thursday, and other infected persons are in a serious condition. The Government Bacteriologist has not located tho source of the infection.—Press Assn.

Airmail Warns Bathers of Shark.— Flying over the Narrabeen beach, the pilot of an aeroplane sighted a huge shark (states a Press Association message from Sydney). He swooped down low over the water and shouted a warning to three life-savers, who were a long way out. They immediately swam ashore. After they reached the shore the pilot saw the shark swim over the spot where the life-savers had been swimming. Later three other monsters were seen cruising beyond the line of the breakers.

Accidentally Shot.—A Whangarei Press Association message states that Henry Samuel Kedgley, aged 22, a son of the Rev. Mr. Kedgley, of Otorohanga, was accidentally shot through the stomach by a fellow employee of the Bank of New South Wales, when ■skylarking before leaving the bank at midday. An operation was performed at the hospital, where the sufferer was taken immediately after the accident.

Property of Russian Emigrants.— An Australian Press AssociationUnited Service message from Berlin states that the Appeal Court gave judgment that the Soviet’s nationalisation decree promulgated In 1920, declaring that all the mobile property of emigres becomes State property, was binding on German Courts, quashed the injunction of November 7 preventing tiie sale of art treasures and ordered the articles involved to be returned to Lepke’s or the purctasers.

New Savings Bank in Sydney.—The new Government Savings Bank in Sydney with frontages to three main thoroughfares, built nt a cost of a million and a half sterling, was officiallyopened by the Premier. Mr. T. R. Bavin, in the presence of a thousand representative men and women. Mr. Bavin described the bank as the second largest savings bank in the British Empire, with deposits of seventy millions sterling. The material used in the construction was largely polished o-ranite. The interior of the banking chamber is the most beautiful besides being one of the largest in the world.—Press Assn.