NREWS IN BRIEF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 December 1924, Page 5

NREWS IN BRIEF.

VICTORIAN LOAN. BY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Dec. 29: Underwriters, are saddled with 91 per cent of the Victorian loan. Dealings opened at one per cent discount.— Reuter. SETTLERS FOR CANADA, y VANCOUVER, Dec. 29. The Winnipeg Tribune says a huge Colonisation scheme, sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church, will settle hundreds of British families on farm lands in Western Canada next summer. Thousands of acres of prairie lands and vast capital expenditure are involved. An advanced stage in the negotiations' has already been reached between the church, the provincial Governments and the ■ national railways. Father •/. Quinn, of, Humboldt, Saskatchewan, is proceeding to Britain to establish the necessary organisation. The settlers are to be selected from the agricultural classes of England, Scotland and Southern Ireland. JAPAN AND AMERICA. WASHINGTON, Dec. 29. The War Departments of Japan and the United States have arranged for the exchange of language officers, who will be attached to regiments in both armies for a period of six months. The Secretary for War (Mr J. W. Weeks) approved the plan, emphasising that this was the first such arrangement with Japan, and that it was indicative of the friendly feeling existing between the two Departments and armies. . ' MISHAP TO STEAMER.

LONDON, Dec. 29. A report from Dakar, in French West Africa, states that the steamer Devon on her way to Australia from Newport experienced 6erious boiler trouble, and will he delayed probably three months in being repaired. Deceived Dec. 31. .11.10 a.m LONDON. Dec. 30. The Federal Steamship Co. state with reference to the Devon that a fully equipped repair ship has been despatched to Dakar, where she aron January 8. It. is anticipated that permanent repairs can be effected-dn- three to four days, after which the Devon will proceed on the voyage. t TROTSKY'S FATE. LONDON, Dec. 30. . It is reported from Moscow- via Berlin, that Trotsky js a prisoner in the Kremlin .in consequence of lfus criticisms of the Bolshevist administration. THE LITHGOW MYSTER'Y. . V ■ SYDNEY, Dec. 30. At the inquest on James Dwyer a verdict of 'suicide was returned. Dwyer’s body, hearing many wounds, was found at Lithgov r . The police were puzzled as to whether death w r as caused by murder or by suicide. LUNATIC HOSPITAL FIRE. Received Dbo. 31. 10.30 a.m. . TOKIO. Dec. 30. Nineteen bodies have, so far, been recovered from the lunatic hospital fin?, but seventeen a.ro still missing.