MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1927, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS.

Australia & N.Z. Cable Assoc .ation.

A dramatic sequel. DELHI, Jan. 30. An alleged fraud perpetrated on the Maharaja of Bharatpur, one of India s leading ruling chiefs, had a dramatic sequel. Anxious to raise a large sum of money, the Maharaja negotiated with a Calcutta Anglo-Indian agent to dispose of the Stale jewels valued M seventy thousand sterling. Ihe agent, in whose custody the jewels were placed. gave the Maharaja’s agent two cheques for them. The cheques were dishonoured and tho agent was arrested. The bag was found hut no jewels. A report of the disappearance of the jewels was read in n newspaper by a youth, a friend of tho arrested man who he recalled had left a bag v iidi him to keep safely, saying it contained papers. Tho youth took the butt to tho polieo who found the jewC'S intact.

OBITUARY. LONDON, Jan. 30. Obituary--Sir Robert Buchanan J incline. QUEENSLAND’S GOVERNOR. LONDON, Jan. 20. “Reynold’s News” states it is understood the Government have recommended two well known men as Governors designate of Queensland, and tint in each case the the State aullion--1 ies disapproved of the choice. G Ell MAN CLAIM FAILS. HAGUE. Jan. 30. The Arbitration Tribunal, cabled on 10th. January gave judgment against the German claim for 5 reduction, of the reparations. ITALY’S EXPANSION. . VIENNA. Jan. 30. “Despite all scientific efforts. Italy cannot feed her own people. She must either spread or explode.” declared Mussolini in an interview with “Active Freie Rrcsse.” “This does not mean Italy proposes to attack any of her neighbours. The growth of Italy is an affair of evolution. We inusf be as patient as England Ims been.”

OLDEST SCOTCHMAN DIES. LONDON, Jan. 30.

Obituary John Hood, aged 103. believed to he the eldest Scot alive. lie emigraled to New Zealand in 1557 where he was in business as a posting contractor. lie returned to bis native village in 1897.

SOVIET ARMY. PICA, Jan. 30,

“The Tillies” correspondent tele graphs as follows: “The whole ol Russia must, be militarised.” said At VorosliilnfT. the Soviet War Commissioner, when addressing the I’m Soviet. Military organisations. “The foreign Rowers arn preparing to nttneli Bolshevists.” be said, “and we will b< fools if we do not take precautions.’’ AL VoroshilofT bones to see the membership twenty millions, and to sec leading Bolshevists touring Russia, urging an enrolment eompaign. which has always been active, and lias never been more intensive than it is now. “Simultaneously,” s>>vs the correspondent, “the so-called Soviet Communists wit 1 ■ a few foreign bangers on. have started a stream of appeals to flic worlds workers, describing the British Government as the principal of the intern atiolial cut throats and urging the workers not to handle munitions. The United States is designated as 1 pirates trying to strangle Nicaragua and to conquer Mexico.” The Anghi-Ainoi i,<iii activities arc declared to lie merely u prelude to an attack on Russia. HI NGARY’S ELECTIONS. LONDON, Jan. 39. 'Che “Daily Chronicle’s” Budapest correspondent reports that there were remarkable scenes at the opening of the new Hungarian Parliament, the Hungarian Hag was flown at half mast, and the members ot both houses Wore black arm hands, as a sign of mourning for Hungary’s lost territories.

The Lower House has been elected on what the correspondent terms an amazing system of franchise. Out ol -10 constituencies, 199 voted by open ballot The freedom of the remaining -17 constituencies in. the towns was largely ’mill by the tact that every nomination paper bad to be Jg,lied by ten per cent, of the votes. I’he peasants voting in the open, ballot were afraid to ofloml their mastcis, mil a half-guinea gratuity paid out of Tie taxes was freely oil'ercd to anyme who voted for a Government eaitlidate. In some eases. Opposition cnnlid ales were arrested "in error and vere imprisoned until the election was iver. The Parliament (says the enr■espoiident) therefore represents the nediaeval nobility.

STAIDLI.SE THE FRANC. PARTS. Jan. 31. Al. Caillaux speaking at l.e Alans, said be favoured the immediate’Stabilisation of the franc, as he considered that restabilisation bv .successive stages would render necessary big reductions in wages .and would lead to arrears in the payment of pensions and similar charges. He pointed out that other nations had stabilised their currencies. France alone, he asserted, was in dannor of being a victim of specula!ioij|

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LOAN. LONDON, Jau. 31. The Daily Express considersTi good reception is assured for the South Australian loan, the prospectus for which is published including tho official summary of tho State’s financial position, which newspapers all commend.

A BIG- FIRE. BRUSSELS. Jim. 30. A big fire broke out-•in the centre of the city. Several acres of buildings were destroyed. The damage is estimated at a quarter of a. million sterling. DOMINION STATUS. VANCOUVER, .Tan. 31. “Canada has not achieved an equality of status with Britain, because of the deccsions of the last Imperial Conference’’ declared Mi* Hugh Guthrie (the Conservative Leader in the House of Commons) in a speech at Montreal. Mr Guthrie based his contention on the assumption that Canada could not have equality unless she also had equality of burdens and responsibilities, particularly in the matter of Umpire defence. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LOAN. LONDON, Jan. 31. The South Australian Loan was largely over-subscribed. HOSPITAL SHIP FOR CHINA. MALTA, Jan. 31. The. Hospital ship Maine has sailed for China.