CABLEGRAMS AND WIRELESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1944, Page 6

CABLEGRAMS AND WIRELESS

MECCA PILGRIMAGE TRAGEDY

TEHERAN, January 20. A young Persian who went on a pilgrimage to Mecca was overcome by heat during his circumambulation of Kaaba (the holy place containing the celebrated black stone) en route to a mosque between Safa and Marwa, and collapsed. He vomited into his pilgrim’s robes. Non-Persian pilgrims in the vicinity accused him of defiling the holy place, and indicated Persian before the Governor, with the result that he was decapitated by sword in the presence of a large crowd. The incident caused the Government of Iran to lodge a strong protest with the Government of Saudiarabia, accompanied by a demand for reparations. Tran, in future, will forbid pilgrimages to Mecca, unless Saudiarabia ensures safety of pilgrims.

EXPENSIVE WHISKY.

LONDON, January 20. The “Daily Telegraph” reports that whisky has been sold at 72/- per bottle at a London auction sale Whisky sold in bulk fetched 280/per original proof gallon in bond. Cases of a dozen bottles in bond realised 600/-, plus a duty of 260/-, making a total of 860/- per case. FORGED BANK NOTES.

LONDON, January 19. The “Daily Mail” says: Bogus Bank of England notes, printed by the Germans, are being circulated in neutral countries. Some notes have been examined by experts who confirm them to be of German origin. . The notes are of such excellent quality that even some experts have been deceived. According to the “Mail’s” Geneva correspondent, the notes are in circulation in Upper Savioe with an intention of passing them into circulation through Switzerland. SHIPPING FREIGHTS. LONDON, January 19. “The Times’s” city editor says:— Twenty-five Shipping Conference Lines and loading brokers in Australian trade, and five Shipping Conference Lines on the . New Zealand route intimated that increased freight rates, amounting to the equivalent of 33 and 1-3 per cent, will be applied after February to cargo shipping to Australia and New Zealand. This increase brings the rates up to 50 per cent, over the pre-war level.