NEWS OF THE WORLD.

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 March 1920, Page 8

NEWS OF THE WORLD.

LOST DIAMOND MINE. SOUTH AEEICAN EOMANCE. Lively interest is being- shown on the Hand in connection with disclosures of a rich diamond mine which has been lost, temporarily it is hoped, in the shifting sands of the South-West Protectorate. It is stated that the mine was discovered, by' an Englishman, who was managing- a German mine, and who, knowing- the impossibility of obtaining a fairtitle to the property, visited his discovery secretly, and returned with large numbers of valuable stones, which he sold on trips to Johannesburg. The diamonds were much larger and of betterquality than those usually discovered in South-West Africa, and so plentiful that the Englishman is reported to have put some of the small stories into the German mine, with a view to in-

creasing- tlie latter’s output. After General Botlia’s conquest of South-West Africa it was announced that no claims for fresh mines could he entertained until peace was concluded. All arrangements had been made forgoing* to the mine, and all the necessary material ready for transport when the Englishman died suddenly. It is hoped, however, that a description of the nlac© left by the man will enable the mine to be rediscovered, and an influential syndicate has’been formed for the purpose of making a search, ° NOT, WANTED. WORD-TWISTING M.P’S. Lawyer-politicians are in for a bad time at the next g-eneral elec-

tion in England, according to tlie programme of a new association formed to: —“Obviate the evils which are undoubtedly the result of the super-abundance of lawyers in Parliament.” Lawyers standing at the polls will be challenged by speakers of the Anti-Lawyer Politician Association, which is non-party, and only concerns itself with the elimination of lawyers from the House of Commons. “Because of his ability to talk, to quibble, and to ‘wordtwist,’ ” says the bon. secretary of the association, “the lawyer with political ambitions far too frequently gqps into Parliament! But once there, when faced with the necessity' of doing anything of a practical, patriotic, or useful description, he is the most miserable of failures. Usually the lawyer-politician lias-one object in view : he wants an official attached position ‘with salary and pension attached,’ irrespective altogether of his qualifications to fill the post.”

MORMONS AND MARRIAGE. ONE MAN ONE WIFE IN UTAH Mr. James Gunn McKay, president of the London Conference of tiio Clnirch of Jesus ( heist of i.alter Day Saints, received at South '1 ottmha.m a, number ol representatives yf the press for the purpose of making- a -statement concerning the activities of the Mormon organisation. Mr. McKay handed round copies of the “Article of Faith.” which manlier 10. He denied statements which had been published that 1200 coverts to Mormonism were ready to leave Laiieaslrre ami Yorkshire for Utah. There was, ho said not one single Mormon, either male or female, being shipped. An English visitor, now resident in Utah, supplemented lh‘s declaration of Mr. McKay by stating that a man with more than one wife in Utah would find himself very speedily within prison walls. Mr.McKay, proceeding, said the Mormon cause was extending very rap dly. A tern[ile had been opened in Hawaii, and next year Mr. Hebcr J. Grant would open a temple in Alberta, Canada. The Prince of Wales had secured a farm ad-

joining, and, .added Air. McKay, “how wili tilo people feed on , the Brinco bo'oming onr neighbour?” A!' 1 . AlcKay conclndod by saying that tho prim i;:lo oi piujal marnago had ac eompliahcd its end, and t onsoq neatly was abolished. A sum of £2OO had been offered as a. reward lor an nuteiiticatcd case of plural marriage, i p to this date no claim had been prefer!od. The r mission was realiy a campaign for purity in physical, spiritual, and financial matters. y DO DBLE-VOICED SINGER. A vocal “find” which puts all other singing marvels in tho shade has come to light in the town of Leigh, says a Glasgow paper, lie is Air. E. A. Dickinson, ol whom it is said that he can sing both tenor and bass at tho same time. His everyday occupation was windowcleaning, and it was said while engaged il. 1 !• w r i i ■ "i •

on the windows of a Manchester building that iiis strange vocal accomplishment attracted attention. A genthnucu passing recently thought he heard two voices, and was astonished on glancing at the top of the ladder to see only one man at the sotuce of the sound. ' “That’s how it became known,” said Mr. Dickinson to a Press representative. “When I’m singing I can quite easdy give my threat a slight twist, with the ■result that I have apparently two vicces singing in a natural harmony.” In commenting upon this vocal curiosity, the “Daily Chronicle” remarked that ho is not the first double-voiced individual. Frank Buckland was once introduced to a similarly endowed man, but does not appear to have got at his secret. If the laryngeal theory is correct, a double larynx would do the trick, but tho mystery of “dual control” would remain, although wo are all endowed with the power of separate control in tho case of hands and feet. Five minutes with a laryngoscope would enable the window-cleaner to settle a big icienitfic question, as to whether the local chords are really vocal.