NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 53

NEWS BY CABLE.

A NOTABLE FLIGHT. LONDON, March 13. Mr Alan Cobham has arrived at Croydon, tins completing his flight to Capetown and back.

QUEENSLAND DROUGHT BROKEN. BRISBANE, March 10. Good rain along practically the whole of the coast has broken the protracted dry spell. Heavy falls are also reported inland

SHAKESPEARE THEATRE. LONDON, March 9. The governors of the Shakespeare Theatre have decided to rebuild. They will probably launch a public appeal for £IOO,OOO.

NEW ZEALAND LECTURE. LONDON, March 10. Sir James Allen intends to lecture to the delegatee at Geneva on New Zealand. He took with him lantern slides from London.

INFANTILE MORTALITY. SYDNEY, March 8. Government statistical reports show that the infant mortality under the age of one year for 1925 was 54.9 per thousand compared with 59.9 for the previous year.

A TRAGIC OCCURRENCE. VANCOUVER. March 11. According to a telegram from Fairbanks Mr Palmer Hutchinson, the news writer accompanying the expedition was killed on Thursday when an aeroplane propeller chopped through hs body.

TRADE FACILITIES BILL. LONDON, March 11. The committee stage of the Trade Facilities Bill was completed at 6 o’clock this morning. The Government applied the closure several times. Several Socialist amendments were rejected. NOTE ISSUE AND GOLD RESERVE. SYDNEY, March 11. The Commonwealth note issue in February totalled £53,890,226, with gold backing representing 48,31 per cent, of the issue. TROTSKY’S NEW ROLE. MOSCOW, March 9. M. Trotsky, in addition to his Governments posts, has assumed the princinalship of the School of Journalism. He is especially instructing pupils in the art of obtaining and writing copy. THE GERMAN MINES. BEBLIN, March 11. The Rhineland and Westphalian mine owners have issue an ultimatum stating their intention of reducing wages from March 31. A LONDON CRIME. LONDON, March 12. A woman’s head, roughly severed, was found in a parcel in a train to Guildford from Waterloo. The police are investigating. HEAVY FIRE LOSSES. SYDNEY, March 11. The damage at MTlwraith’s premises by fire is now set down at £150,000. 'it is estimated that the fire waste throughout Australia since the beginning of the year is over £3,000,000. NEW ZEALAND ADVERTISING. LONDON, March 12. The New Zealand High Commissioner’s office is fully utilising Empire Shopping Week. Lectures are being given over a large radius around London and New Zealand films are in heavy demand. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. LONDON, March 9 The Department of Scientific Industrial Research is opening a small laboratory adjoining Covent Garden for work on fruit and vegetable problems in conjunction with the low-temperature research station at Cambridge. THIEPVAL CEMETERY. LONDON, March 9. It is learned that the explosion at Thiepva] was not as serious as was reported. It was the headstonea chiefly that were damaged, and they are being repaired immediately. The bodies were scarcely disturbed.

NEW TUBERCULOSIS CURE. SYDNEY, March 9. The Tubercular Association has established a clinic for testing Dr Smallpaire’s new serum on a large scale. Two hundred cases are to be dealt with weekly. The terms of treatment are being fixed at a low scale.

STOLEN PICTURES. LONDON, March 9.

The editor of the Daily Mail has received through the post the stclen Guildhall picture and three of the four Academy canvasses by Constable, which were missing. The pictures were without frames and were wrapped in brown paper.

MARVELS OF WIRELESS. LONDON, March 13.

Mr Shannon succeeded in talking to Mexico City using a transmitter of only 15 watte power compared with 200,000 used by Rugby recently while communicating with New York.

TROPICAL AUSTRALIA. ADELAIDE, March 9.

A terrific wind storm swept over 600 miles of territory in Central Australia. A heat wave is also being experienced and to the shortage of water the outlook is black.

The cattle stations are suffering severe losses of stock.

CIVIL SERVICE ESTIMATES. LONDON, March 11. The Civil Service Estimates total £300,641,000, compared with £312,954,000 last year. The Estimates include £50,730,000 for education, £29,840,000 for old age pensions, and £63,504,000 for war pensions.

DENGUE FEVER EPIDEMIC. SYDNEY, March 12. Th town of Inverell is still in the throes of an outbreak of dengue fever. Over 90 per cent, cf the inhabitants are suffering from the disease in a more or less serious form. Business within the town is greatly affected. FUMES FROM CHEESE. LONDON, March 9. Fumes from a cargo of New Zealand cheese overcame two officers of the steamer Suffolk. When she was docked ai Liverpool they entered the hold to investigate an odour which the stevedores reported. When they failed to return a search party was sent down, and found them unconscious. They were taken to hospital. ISLAND OF OXUS. DELHI, March 11. News has been received that the Russian troops have now vacated the Island cf Oxus, which two battalions of Afghan infantry occupied. Thus the Russo-Afghan dispute, which at one time hung as a war cloud, is now on a fair way to settlement amicably. AN ILL-FATED VOYAGE. BUENOS AIRES, March 13. Measles, pneumonia, and peritonitis caused 30 deaths, mostly among emigrants or board the Italian liner Belvidere between the time of her departure from Trieste and her arrival here cn Friday. The dead were buried at sea. THE DISABLED MAZATLAN. SAN FRANCISCO, March 10. Although her engines are so badly crippled that repairs cannot be made at sea, the motor ship Mazatlan, which is adrift 800 miles off Guam can safely await the arrival of vessels to tow her to Honolulu. According to a message received on Wednesday she has a month’s provisions on board. ACROS9~THE POLE. NEW YORK, March 10. A telegram from Fairbanks (Alaska) states that Catain Wilkins announced on Wednesday that he would hop off from Fairbanks on March 21. He predicted that he would be in New York next month after his flight over the Arctic wastes from Point Barrow (Alaska) to Spitzbergen.

THE WOMAN’S VOTE. LONDON, March 11

Sir W. Joynson-Hicks (Home Secretary), speaking at Croydon, predicted the possibility of an extension cf the women’s franchise before the next election. He said there are more women than men; therefore women would then control the Empre.

ARMY LIAISONS. LONDON, March 12

The King has approved the following regimental alliances:—The Australian Second Light Horse to the 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars; 12th Light Horse to the Royal Scots Greys; the 32nd Infantry Battalion to the Leicesters; the New Zealand Corps of Engineers to the Royal Engineers ; and the Hawke’s Bay Regiment to the Royal Berkshires.

FIRE IN THEATRE. VIENNA. March 12.

A wireless announcement that the Apollo Theatre was on fire sent relatives and friends of .the audience hurrying to the scene. On their arrival they found the fire had spread to the adjoining hotel. Firemen fought the flames for an hour. Meanwhile the audience enjoyed the performance below, unconscious of their danger.

DEATH OF LORD KITCHENER. LONDON, March 12. A demand that the “mysterious circumstances” surrounding the death of Lord Kitchener should be cleared up by the fublication of the report of the Court of nquiry was signed bv 2500 persons after the screening of the picture entitled “The Tragedy of the Hampshire” at which therfe were present all the Agents-General for the Australian States.

TUTANKHAMEN. CAIRO March 11

Tutankhamen will shortly be allowed to continue his disturbed slumbers. It is reported'that the Antiquities Department has decided to rebury the mummy in a plain iron casket within ono of the tombs in the smaller chambers, on which a notice will be affixed informing archaeologists that it is only Tutankhamen's tomb, any information in connection with which may be found at the Cairo Museum. This will prevent it from being redisturbed centures hence.

HEALTH OF THE POPE. ROUE, February 22. The Pope has weaAered the strain of the almost uninterrupted daily activities of holy year with no loss of health or strength. Members of his court assert that he feels better now than he did a year ago. Often, during the holy year, his Holiness was close to the danger point, Lufc his robust constitution, buoyed up by his intense love for the work which was being carried out, bore him safely through every crisis. ALLEGED FRUIT TRUST. VANCOUVER, March 9. The trial of 53 Western Canadian fruit jobbers and individuals charged by the Federal Government with conspiracy and forming an illegal combine ended on Tuesday with the completion of the defence evidence. Several days will be occupied by the defence and Crown addresses, and the judge’s charge to the jury The trial is the lengthiest and most expensive in the history of criminal prosecution of British Columbia, having lasted for 32 court days. KUBELIK’S PARROTS. LONDON. March 8. The violinist, Jan Kubelik, has returned to London, after an absence of five years with 25 Australian parrots. Most of these birds talked so much that he has handed them over to his mother-in-law for the sake of peace. Kubelik says the sight of men dancing saddens him. Dancing is unsuited to men and women. . Nobody agrees with him, he admits, but he is convinced that dancing detracts from the seriousness of human beings. DUNTROON MILITARY COLLEGE. MELBOURNE. March 11 The annual report of the Royal Military College at Duntroon for the year 1924-25, which has been tabled in the House of Representatives, shows that the annual intake of cadets is now 21, and for these positions there were 40 applicants. The strength of staff and cadets is now 50, which is the greatest since 1921. The expenditure for the financial year totalled £46,584. SOUTHERN ATLANTIC. CAPETOWN, March 10 The German survey ship Meteor has arrived after 11 weeks spent in exploring the Southern Atlantic. Captain Spies regjrts that Thompson Island, marked on ritish maps as being 80 miles north-east of Bouvel Island, could not be found. Many days were spent in the neighbourhood. Tfie German scientists are satisfied that they have proved the disappearance or non-existence of the island. VICTORIAN FIRES. MELBOURNE, March 11. A strong wind rekindled the bush fires in the Bright district and the whole of the Lower Buckland Valley is now burning. The fires are raging on a 30-mile front in theWalhalla district, extending through North Aberfeldy. Donnelly’s Creek, Fulton’s Creek, Aberfeldy Bridge, and Landy’s Dream. Several gold-crushing batteries have been burned out. BOOKSELLING AND CULTURE. SYDNEY, March 13. Speaking at the annual dinner of the Australian and New Zealand Booksellers Convention, Mr George Robertson, of the publishing firm of Messrs Angus and Robertson said that the culture of a country or a town could be judged by its booksellers. New Zealand he said, had a great country trade. It was unfortunate that New South Wales was lacking in that respect. There were large country towns in that State without a first-class bookseller. SINN FEIN. LONDON, March 11. A Sinn Fein meeting in Dublin, by 223 votes to 218, defeated a motion by Mr d<- Valera favouring the entry of the Republican members to the Dail and the Parliament of Northern Ireland if the oath of allegiance was dropped. Mr de Valera thereupon resigned the presidency of Sinn Fein. The committee of the organisation is now considering its political future. LORD TORRINGTON. LONDON, March 11. The Daily Mail states that a warrant has been issued again Viscount Torrington on a charge of stealing a mctcr-car which he allegedly purchased on the hire system. Viscount Torrington was acquitted in October last on a charge of offering a worthless cheque at a Nottingham bank. H© married a Gaiety actress but was divorced in 1921. His bankruptcy in 1919 included a debt of £IO,OOO to his first wife. TAX ON BETTING. LONDON, February 28. “A betting tax should be almost the ideal method of adding to revenue,” says The Times, in a leading article. “Nobody would be compelled to pay it, because nobody need bet. If tne tax checked betting, the Exchequer would not be poorer, while a most desirable social reform would be achieved. “It is difficult to understand why the totalisator which is essentially the poor man’s bookmaker, hae failed to catch on in England.” MONARCHISM DEAD. BERLIN, March 12. Herr Hueltz, the Democratic Minister of the Interior, who was once a noted monarchist, answering challenges in the

Reichstag about his changed policy, said he was once close to the ex-Kaiser, “but when a Kaiser, deinandiug that millions should sacrifice their lives in defence of monarchy, flees to Holland at the first moment in his life when he is called upon to stand for the monarchial idea, then all ties are severed and the monarchy is dead.” FRENCH TOTALISATOR. LONDON, February 27. Mr George Bothell states that Le has signed an agreement with Oilers, Limited; securing the use of the Melbourne automatic totalisator on all the 16 racecourses thev control in France, including five in Paris. Arrangements are being made for the construction of the first machine for France, under the direction of Mr Setright a Sydney engineer. Mr Bethell says that there are prospects of other countries following the French lead. THE BERLIN STAGE. BERLIN, March 11. The daring nature of post-war stage productions in Germany led to an outcry by political and religious organisations, and resulted in Herr Klein, a leading opera producer, being forced to retire from his theatre. Klein now returns to the attack by announcing a new revue entitled “Berlin Without a Chemise.” The critics affirm that Klein lias developed a nudity chorus, and now it only remains to disrobe the audience. The Deutsche Zeitung demands that the police should prohibit chemise-less revues. DR SUN-YAT-SEN. PEKING, March 12. The executive committee of the Kuo-Ming-tang and Sun-Yat-sen Nationalist Party organised a so-called nation-wide observance of the first anniversary of the death of Dr Sun-Y’at-sen which was made the occasion for laying the foundation stone of a costly mausoleum at Nanking. The observance will extend over six days. At Canton a feature of to-day’s proceedings was a three minutes’ silence and also public readings of Dr Sun-Yat-sen’s last political testament.

BEFORE THE KING. LONDON. March 1.

Archdeacon William Burbidge, of Bunbury, Western Australia, preached before the King and Queen in Buckingham Palace chapel. He was arterwards presented to their Majesties. The Queen requested the archdeacon to thank the women of Bunbury for their gift of a mantlepiece of Western Australian timber, which she greatly admired, to the London headquarters of the Women’s Union.

BIG BERTHA. LONDON, March 8

Mr G. Locker-Lampson (Under-Secre-tary for Home Affairs), replying in the House of Commons to Sir Newton Moore, stated he had no information regarding the decision of the Amiens Couno to seD by auction war trophies, including “Big Bertha,” which was captured by the Australians at Chuignolles in 1918 and presented to Amiens in memory of the Australian defence of the town. Even if the sale were projected it was not a matter in which the Government could with propriety intervene. WHEAT FREIGHT DECLINE. SYDNEY, March 10. Since the beginning cf the year the wheat freight market has steadily dropped and it has now reached the lowest point fo» many years, probably since before the war. The outlook is very bad since a large amount of tonnage is offering with little prospect of engagement. The seasonal winter depression promises to be the worst faced by shipowners in the Australian trade for many years. Earlier in the season the freight rate from Western Australia was 40s a ton. The latest steamer fixture was 26s 3d. CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS. SYDNEY, March 10. Speaking at a civic reception to the visiting delegates to a conference of the Associated Booksellers of Australia and New Zealand, Mr Pyke (Queensland) said that the booksellers should be left to their work without a censorship. New Zealand had a censorship of books which was opposed to the interests of the community. Mr *H. C. South (New Zealand) denied this, stating that the New Zealand censorship was carried out fairly and discreetly. CORRIEDALE SHEEP. LONDON, March 10. The Ministry of Agriculture has issued a license permitting Mr James Piner, farmer, of Burntisland, Fifeshire. who bought New Zealand Corriednle sheep at the Exhibition at Wembley to import 30 head from New Zealand. He believes that the breed will be highly suitable for Scottish stud purposes. The sheep referred to in this message, comprising 10 rams and 20 ewes ,are to be forwarded from Mr J. A. Johnstone’s wellknown estate at Bushey Park. They will be shipped in August' or September.

MOERAKI DELAYED. MELBOURNE, March 13. The Moeraki sailed last night after having been delayed for 20 minutes. Th 6 delay was due to the crew refusing to work, as a number of New Zealanders who had helped to break the British seamen's strike last year by manning the steamer Essex were on board.

The crew only beard that these men were passengers a few minutes before sailing time, and they declared that they would not proceed to Rea if the strikebreakers remained on board. Eventually

the strike-breakers left the vessel, which proceeded to sea. •.TAXATION PROBLEMS. LONDON, March 11. The Northanis Chamber of Co mm ere# adopted a resolution for presentation to Mr Baldwin protesting against the system by which certain of the dominions charge income tax upon absentee principals. One member stated that the New Zealand authorities, through his agent, were demanding a tax on the estimated profits on his sales there. The Giamber recommended resistance, and urged the Gov< ernment to bring up the matter at the Imperial Conference.

THE ECONOMY BILL. LONDON, Marci ll

It is estimated that between £8,000,000 and £10,000,000 will be saved in the cominy year under the Economy Bill which was introduced in the House of Commons by Mr Churchill. Speaking in the House in regard to the measure, Mr Churchill said that the savings during the second year would be slightly less than in the first year. There would be a yearly saving for the next! three years of £2,750,000 on the health insurance grants and a weekly reduction of |d per capita in the Government’s con* tribution to unemployment insurance.

FLIGHT OF FANCY. BERLIN, March 10.

Professor Suring, head of the Potsdam Meteorological Institute, declares that; German aviators will be enabled to cross the Atlantic in 12 hours by using the storm-free regions of the upper air known as the stratosphere, at an altitude of seven miles where owing to the low density of the air it will be possible for powerful engined 'planes to average 280 miles an hour. The pilot and the passengers will have to be housed in a special pneumatic box constantly supplied with oxygen.

SMUGGLERS AT ANTWERP. LONDON, February 24.

The rum-runners who have made Antwerp their headquarters include a party of English and other adventurers. They acted as agents for English firms, but did not prosper, even though they despatched many shipments of bottled sea water with the merest flavouring of whisky. Many regular ships carry from 30 to 40 cases of liquor which are bought by the crews and landed in America.

The adventurers are now giving the attention to diamond smuggling. _ They refuse to practise cocaine smuggling, as it criminal, whereas diamond smuggling and bootlegging are regarded as sportsmanlke.

THEFTS OF CLOHTING. SYDNEY, March 13. The police claim to have exposed a huge thieving scheme, which in the past 18 months has resulted in thousands of pounds’ worth of goods—chiefly silks and clothing—disappearing from the city and suburban railway stations. It is estimated that in the last six months the losses amounted to £IO,OOO. After protracted investigations by a force of detectives, a lightning raid was conducted on several houses in the city and suourbs, and five women and three men were arrested. Hundreds of pounds’ worth of goods were recovered. More arrests are pending.

WHISKY SHIPPED AS HAY. OTTAWA, February 27.

A public inquiry into the administration cf the Canadian Customs Department disclosed the export of large quantities of liquor to Mexico, from Ford, Ontario, opposite Detroit, for a period exceeding a year. A considerable portion was shipped td an agent at Montreal, 600 miles distant, then to Ford. Although Ford is only a few miles from the liquor’s source (Walkerville Distillery) the Customs taxed it at £3OO a car.

The agent admitted that he often mixed this alcohol with imported Scotch whisky, and shipped the liquor as hay.

TOTAL WAR EXPENDITURE. MELBOURNE, March 11.

In the House of Representatives, in replying to a question, the Treasurer (Dr Earle Page) 1 said that the amount received bv Australia in reparations to date was £377,390. Australia’s total share of reparations was £63,162,000. The total war expenditure bv Australia to December 31. 1925, was £588,627,000. The chief items were: Interest (including interest on war gratuity bonds), £134.750,000; war pensions to soldiers and dependents, £54,442,000; war gratuities to soldiers and dependents* £27,435,000. vocational training in hospi< tals, £17.756.000: soldiers’ land settles ment. £54,717,000; war service homes, £17,005,000.

MUSIC AND WIRELESS. LONDON, March 9. The Music Publishers’ Association of London has decided to present an ulti* matum to the British Broadcasting Company stating that, unless the company agrees to pay royalties on popular music, i matter which has been the subject of long discussion, they will withdraw permission to broadcast their copyright numbers immediately. It is stated that this will mean the immediate exclusion of all dance music from wireless programmes. The publishers say that they are not asking for higher fees. They even agreed to accept lower fees than last year, but they could not afford to agree to the company’s proposed rates. They declared that broadcasting had reduced the life of popular songs to weeks.

AUSTRALIAN BUTTER. OTTAWA. March 12. Mr J. Boivin, Minister of Customs and Excise, made the following announcement to-day:—“Shipments cf butter from Australia within the last few days have been accepted upon the payment of a duty of four cents per pound. This duty represents one cent per pound under the Australian treaty and a further duty of three cent under tne dumping clause.*’ The Minister stated that the extra duty under the dumping clause was being levied pending an investigation to determine ■whether the home consumption price of batter in Australia was in excess of five per cent over the price cf Australian putter sold in Canada.

TO PREENT STRIKES. ROME, March 12 Tlie Senate approved, bv 138 votes to 26, the Fascist Trades Union Bill providing for compulsory arbitration in labour disputes. Signor Mussolini described the measure as the most revolutionary yet produced by his Government. Be emphasised the disciplinary character of the measure, pointing out that Fascist syndicalism now comprised 2,000,000 agricultural and industrial workers, a formidable ar. l obedient force completely controlled by Fascism and the Government, fully appreciating the value and function of Capitalism, and the necessity for co-operation with capi talism. The Fascist conception was that all must be within, and none outside, the State; above all, nobody must be against the State. The struggle for life was such nowadays that no nation could indulge in the luxury of strikes.

INNOCENT MAN SHOT. PARIS March 9.

There was a moving ceremony at the rehabilitation of the memory of an innocent man who was shot during the war at Maubeuge.

Strirmnelle, a blacksmith, on September 7, 1914, was accused of espionage by using homing pigeons, and was shot out of hand at the door of the ramparts at Maubeuge. Local opinion was immediately convinced that their had been a miscarriage «f military justice. Finally the League of the Rights of Men tock up the case, and the courts proclaimed the blacksmith’s innocence. To-day there was a great gathering at the grave of the dead man. The speakers paid a tribute to his honour, and sympathised with his widow. Finally the onlookers came to the grave and took an oath to do their best to presect war in the future.

A PROTRACTED FAST. LONDON, March 10.

Medical interest has been aroused by a fast which Lady Fisher, wife of Sir Warren Fisher, permanent secretary of the Treasury, has broken after a duration of 42 days, during which period she had nothing beyond water and orange juice. Last night she had the first pang of hunger upon which she expressed a desire for urown bread and butter. The superintendent in charge of the institution of which Lady Fisher is an inmate declares that the desire after a fast is always for natural food.

Lady Fisher was allowed diluted rni'k, gradually working up to to natural milk until a week has elapsed, when she will be allowed brown bread. Throughout the first five weeks of the fast Lady Fisher danced and Lok long walks and was generally physicaly activie. She declared that she was never better in her life.

STATELY ENGLISH HOMES. LONDON, March 9

The Daily Mail states that Lupton Hall Lord C.rurston’s seat—was destroyed by lire at midnight. The only tenants were the caretaker and his wife. The latter ran half a mile to the village and raised the alarm. Nine brigades vainly fought to surpress the outbreak, but they succeeded in rescuing many valuable pointings. This makes the ninth mansion bouse fire in 1926. March 10. The extraordinary sequence of fires in country mansions is the subject of some disc::A3ion in view of the destruction of Lupton bouse involving damage estimated at £500,000. Insurance experts do not believe that the remarkable series of outbreaks is anything other than a coincidence. Nevertheless there is a probability that the rates will harden and that more severe restrictions will be imposed.

NAVAL DEFENCE. LONDON. March 12. During the debate in the House of Com*, mons cn the Navy Estimates Mr 0. G. Ammon (Lab.), asked for information in regard to the development of Indian navv fortification in India. He declared that the Government’s Singapore policy was calculated to lead to war in the Far East, ns it had aroused the suspicions cf Japan and China. Mr C. Bellairs (Con.) urged that the question of future defence should be subntifcted to the Imperial Conference. ne declared that Australia and New Zealand might ns well throw the money thev spent cn defence into the son if thev could ** not be assured of the support of the great | British fl»et in the event of wnr with l Japan. Their ships would simnlv be a prey for the Japanese Navy without the British fleet, and if thev could not relv : on the support cf the British Navy their eyes would turn to America.

TUBERCULOSIS CURE. SYDNEY, March 13.

At a meeting of the committee of the Queen Victoria Consumptive Hospital, Dr Sinclair, of Sydney, reported on an interview that he had had with M. Spahlinger kit Geneva. He declared that M. Spah linger had produced a serum which gave l

great hope for the future. He believed that M. Spahlinger had produced something good if the medical world could only get hold of it; but, unfortunately, M. Spahlinger was a most difficult man to deal with when it came to business.

Dr Sinclair said M. Spahlinger showed his 30 or 40 cases, some of which were still under treatment, lie saw several serious cases which absolutely convinced him that there was a strong case to answer.

In reply to a query, Dr Sinclair declared that he had seem absolute cures.

DRUNKENNESS TESTS. LONDON, March 12.

When is a man drunk, is a question that has been responsible for considerable scientific thought. In view of the motor regulations regarding drunkenness the senior police surgeon at Sheffield advances a startling criticism of the present-day tfcsts, such as smelling the breath, toeing a line, and standing still with eyes closed, the result of which he claims is unsatisfactory. “There are five signs that considerably influence me,” he says, a flushed face, sweating, dilated pupils, congested eyes, and a rapid pulse. These, however, do not convey certainty. Many a man who is involved in an accident will sober quickly when taken t-o the police station. The only tnfailable test appears to be the water test, in connection with which the most valuable experiments have been conducted with a view to discovering the quantity of drink in the system.” ' UNIQUE LONDON DINNER. LONDON, March 12. qnbiun sdeqjad sgai qeqq £picd jauuip y throughout the world tock place at the People’s Palace, in Mile End road when General Booth dined with 1000 “down and cuts” from the homes throughout London. Waitresses, as trim and dainty as any in the West End, served roast beef, potatoes, vegetables, and plum pudding such as the majority of the guests had not tasted for years. The party was not without the pathetic side, almcst every human emotion being exhibited on the faces of the luckless, thousand. There were old men who were older still because of despair and young men who had forgotten how to smile. The majority realised for the first time in years the pleasantness of a meal served with seemliness and decency. Many fumbled awkwardly with the paper serviettes, and more than one tear was wiped from an eye. After the first course there were merry murmurs of conversation, and towards the end many fotind occasion for smiles and laughter. WAR GRAVES. LONDON, March 11 Progress in caring for and beautifying war cemeteries, florally and architecturally, in Europe, Asia, .and Africa is depicted in the photographic supplement to the annual report of the War Graves Commission, whose labours, statistically illustrated, were as follows: The Commission cared for 2380 cemeteries, comprising 645,498 graves. It conducted seven nurseries, supplied nearly 7,C00,000 plants, trees, and shrubs; purchased 360,000 bulbs, planted 49 miles of hedges and 41 acres cf grass, and chemically treated 97,000 headstones. The report disclosed that isolated British remains continue to be found, the number last year being 4100. These were mostly discovered by organised gangs in digging the ground and searching for shells and war material.

The Prince of Wales sent a message to the Commissioners expressing gratification that the Governments cf Britain, Canada, and Australia have agreed to endow the Commission, and observing with satisfaction that the other Empire Governments are considering a similar course.

BRITISH TYPEWRITERS. LONDON, February 24. “One of the most dramatic and pungent interviews in the annals cf British commerce,” is how the newspapers describe the chance meeting at the British Industries Fair between King George and a typewriter salesman, Mr W. R. Mawle.

Wi.en his Majesty expressed his indignation at the use by officials of American typewriters, Mr Mawle told him that every additional typewriter 6old to the Government would mean the employment cf anot! ?r mechanic.

The King demonstrated his amazing memory by recalling that he had decorated Mr Mawle with the Flying Cross during the war. “I could not let the chance pass,” said Mr Mawle, “of telling the King of the unfairness of the Government toward British producers. The King’s heated questions seemed to embarrass Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, president of the Board of Trade, that I jumped in with the facts. I pointed out that at least one make of British typewriter was 10 per cent, cheaper than anv American machine, and guaranteed for three times ns long.' The Duke of York, who visited the fair, tested a British typewriter, and premised to recommend it for the King’s use.

THE BRITISH ARMY. LONDON, March 11

Tlie Army Estimates total £42,500,000 —a reduction of £2,G00,000. Tlie establishment absorbs £159,400, exclusive of India—a reduction or £12,000.

The Secretary of State of War (Sir L. Worthington-Evans (emphasises that more new light tanks are being provided and four more medium batteries are being equipped with dragon tractors. Attention is drawn to new designs of guns and ammunition, also to defence against gaa.

The Minister's memorandum pays a tribute to the high quality of the recruits. Only 30 per cent, of these offering are being accepted. Owing to tlie high stau-

dard of character, education, and physique demanded the Army is less dependent on unemployed men for recruits than formerly. Forty per cent of the London recruits gave up their employment to join the Army. The issue of war medals to nearly 6,000,000 persons is approaching completion, but the addresses of 200,000 carmot be traced.

In the House of Commons Mr L. S. Aniery (Secretary for the Dominions) told Mr L. Hcre-Belisha that the per capita contributions to defence were as follows: Australia, 13s 2d; New Zealand 8s; Canada 7£d; South Afrca, Is 9d.

ALLEGATION OF FRAUD. LONDON, March 9. An echo of the mysterious disappearance of Mrs Bevan in 1922 was heard in the Probate Court on the application of the Prudential Insurance Company for a revocation of the letters of administration which had been granted to Mrs Bevan’s solicitor in 1922. Counsel alleged that the secretary of the Girls’ Friendly Society at Exeter, where a girl giving the name of Finch arrived only on the day that Mrs Bevan was supposed to be drowned, identified Miss Finch's photograph as the same as Mrs Bevan’s. The latter applied for a passport to South Africa. The judge, in ordering the application, to stand over, expressed the opinion that the grave questions involved would be set at rest when the presumed deceased arrived from New Zealand if she arrived in custody to await her trial. Mrs Bevan was arrested at Rangiora last month on a warrant from London on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the Prudential Insurance Company, London, ot £2883. One morning in 1924, she went for a bathe at a Devon wateringplace, but she was not seen there again, and all that was found was a pile of clothes on the beach. The insurance company recently received a letter purporting to be signed by Mrs Bevan, saying that she was alive in Australia, and was proceeding to New Zealand.

WONDERS OF WIRELESS. LONDON, March 8.

The demonstration of wireless telephony between London and New York is specially interesting because it is precisely 50 years to-day since Dr Graham Bell applied for the first patent for a telephone in the United States. Sixty journalists assisted at the General Post Office, London, and a similar number in New York, each couple occupying two minutes at the speaker. They went into an ordinary telephone box and sat down with an earpiece until the operator said: “New York on the line.” Conversation was then possible with the greatest ease, though suen perfect transmission is at present only possible at certain seasons of the year, when atmospherics do not interfere. It should be possible in a few months’ time for any subscriber in England to te put into communication with any American subscriber, and the demonstration brings ordinary commercial communication between Australia and England apreciably nearer. The aerial used at Rugby was a mile and a-quartcr long, and was supported by five giant masts, each of 800 ft, but the receiving aeriai at Wroughton was seven miles long and only 30ft high. It is in a straight line during the whole o' its run, and points towards the American station at Rocky Point. The power used was 500 kilowatts, compared with the Daventry broadcasting station’s power cf 50 kilowatts.

A NEW ELEMENT. NEW YORK, March 9.

After six years’ research in the laboratory of the University of Illinois a chemical* element, known by its spectrum line, was discovered by the use of an X-ray spectroscope and identified as element 61, for which scientists have been searching tor years. It is not believed to be radio-active, but is an addition to 85 known elements. The discovery was made by Dr Hopkins, of the University of Illinois, and Mr J. Allan Harris, his cc-worker and a graduate of the University of British Columbia. Dr R. Jack, professor of physics at the University of Otago, states that up to a few years ago there were six elements that were unknown in the periodic table. Recently the element hafnium, whose number in the table was 72. was discovered by Danish scientists. Still more recently two more gaps in the table were filled. The cablegram, says Dr Jack, tells of the discovery of. one more of the missing elements, so that the number of unknown elements would now be very few. “This element 61,” Dr Jack adds, “is one of what are called the rare earths, and its properties should be similar to those of the other rare earths. The method outlined in the cablegram of utilising X-iays was the one used in the discovery of hafnium hi fact, all recent discov erics have heen made by using this method. It is a very accurate method, as by it eaoh element gives its own characteristic spectral lines.” He could net say offhand whether the discovery had an important industrial significance, though it was possible that it had as the discovery of other rare earths had been of great value to industry.

INDUSTRIAL GERMANYLONDON. March 10.

Sir George Renwick in his second article in the Daily Chronicle on German trade says: “I have dealt tfith the position of the workers. The situation of the employers is equally tragic. The large industrial establishments must bear the blame for the bad economic policy of the past few years. First, they extended their factories and shipbuilding yards during wartime, imagining that a victorious Germany after the wnr would receive the bulk of the world’s orders Secondly, they carried on extensions during the inflation period without bringing the machinery up

to date. Thirdly, when inflation ceased they kept turning out vast quantities of goods for which there were no markets. Fourthly, thev borrowed money, including part of the Dawes Loan and squandered it unproductively. This waste continues and when we remember the tax burdens the rfesult is unbelievably freakish. The extravagance of the over-staffed bueraucratic departments is obvious and the German industrials’ position is not enviable. Their policy has resulted in 1000 bankruptcies a month. The 1925 figures are; January 3779, February 3720. Though these figures include many worthless mushroom growths many long-established firms shared a similar fate. Though the manufacturers agree that they must make higher quality goods this is not doi and in meet lines foreign buyers find British goods superior to German. Wireless manufacturers admit that their British competitors are technically two years in front. British motor cars at least twice as good as German. Pre-war shares in German companies were officially qoted on the Stock Exchange at 20,000,000.000 gold marks. To-day they, together with many newly formed companies, only agregate 6,500,000,000 gold marks.”

EMPIRE PRESS UNION. LONDON, March 12.

The Empire Press Union discussed a cablegram urging the special protection of the interests of the press of the dominions with reference to wireless broadcasting, especially of uews for which the cable societies paid large sums. The fear was voiced that the news bulletins from Rugby were threatening the inteiests cf the press and that news belonging to the various affiliations in England was bein'* distributed broadcast by the Foreign Office service. Tile cablegram wag referred to a special committee. The resolutions of the Empire Press Conference were presented to the meeting. Sir Robert Donald (chairman) deplored the Post Office’s lack of enterprise regarding communications, instancing its reference to wireless as a subsidiaiv service. The Imperial cable in 1925, he said, lost £34,C00, proving that its methods were obsolete, which unhappily seemed to be the Post Office’s reason for refusing to scrap it. The communications and resolutions were referred to a committee for a report.

Mr P. A. Hurd, M.P., said that the migration resolution should have mentioned the barriers raised by the dominions, many cf which were hidden. Viscount Burnham declared that all the barriers were not overseas. It was decided to call a conference of the Overseas Settlement Committee, the High Commissioners and Agents-General and the newspaper proprietors, Mr il. P. Colebatch (Western Australia) remarking that it would be useful if it only removed the impression that obstacles were being deliberately raised overseas. Mr Hurd moved and Sir Harry Britain seconded a motion expressing the union’s regret at the estrangement cf Canada and the Pacific Cable Board and the hope that the differences would be settled in a spirit of goodwill and mutual accommodation. Mr Hurd mentioned that he had been informed that such a resolution was likely to be fruitful. The union adopted a comprehensive vote of thanks to the Australian and New Zealand hosts.