NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 49

NEWS BY CABLE.

MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE. LONDON, August 4. The Marquis of Lansdowne left £1,044,631. The widow receives £40,000 twixi a life annuity of £7OOO. The rest of the property goes to the son. MISSING FIREMEN. MELBOURNE, August 6. The Manuka has sailed for Wellington. Her departure was delayed nearly an hour owing to the absence of two firemen, who were located in a nearby hotel, and induced to go aboard. VICTORIAN RAILWAYS. MELBOURNE. August 3. The Federal Government has accepted the tender of a Victorian company for the construction of the section of the North-South railway from Oodnadatta to Alice Springs, a distance of 271 miles, for £695,000, "which is for labour only. g-i WIRELESS TELEPHONY. LONDON, August 5. Experts telephoned by means of short wireless wave lengths 7000 miles, from Nauen (Germany) to Vila Elisa (near Buenos Ayres). The reception was clear and strong, and it is hoped shortly to establish a commercial service. NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS. _ SYDNEY, August 3. Mr W. J. M'Kell, on his return from London, announced that he had decided to place himself behind Mr Lang and to support the decisions of the Unity Conference. COWES REGATTA. LONDON, August 2. The Britannia, with the King at the helm, won the King’s Cup at Cowes regatta, with the White Heather second, and the Lulworth third. The Shamrock grounded on the Hampshire coast, but was refloated at high tide. SYDNEY TO BE REMODELLED. SYDNEY, August 3. The City Council has appointed a subcommittee to report on the remodelling of Sydney. The proposal is to remodel on a comprehensive scale in order to meet the traffic and business requirements of the future. The work will be done in sections over a period of 20 years.

P STONEHENGE MYSTERY. c LONDON, August 5. ] Mr Baldwin, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, ■ Mr Thomas Hardy, Viscount Grey, and s others have appealed for £35,000 to pur- ‘ chase 1444 acres of Salisbury Plain, to ( ensure the solitude of Stonehenge, otherwise extensive building- close to Stane- ( henge is inevitableJ SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON. LONDON, August 5. Sir Ernest Shackleton’s tomb left Barry 1 Dock in eight giant packing cases aboard the collier Harpon. It is an imposing granite monoument, and will surmount his , grave in South Georgia as evidence of Lady Shackleton’s love for her gallant husband. SOVIET EXECUTIONS. LONDON, August 2. The Riga correspondent of the London Times states that it is reported that 12 ex-officers at Moscow have been shot. A Polish spy has been sentenced to death near Kieff, and an ex-lieutenant shot at Chelyabinsk. Other’s have been sentenced to death at Ivanovoznesensk, Novogrod, Kieff, and Caucasus. ’ DAIL EIREANN. LONDON, August 4. Dail Eireann, as a result of stonewalling by the Labour and National League Parties, sat till 3.50 this morning before it completed the committee stage of the Public Safety Bill (arising out of the assassination of Mr O’Higgins) and the Electoral Amendment Bill (requiring acceptance of the oath of allegiance before nomination). MOVEMENTS OF ROYALTY. LONDON, August 6. For the first time in history a separate circular will be issued nightly concerning the official engagements of the Duke and Duchess of York after their return to London in October. On similar lines a circular is at present issued from Buckingham Palace regarding their Majesties, and one from St. James’s Palace regarding the Prince of Wales. THE WHITE RACE. OTTAWA, August 1. Sir Hugh Denison (Commonwealth Commissioner’ to the United States), addressing the Canadian Club at Vancouver, counselled Canada to follow Australia’s and not the United States immigration policy, in order to ensure a virile Nordic racial stock. He quoted Dr Lothrop Stoddart as saying that Western Canada and Austrlia were the last countries left for the expansion of the white race. CLOSING DOWN. SYDNEY, August 2. The Commonwealth Oil Corporation is calling for tenders for the disposal of tin; whole of its assets, comprising the most complete and extensive plant. The managing director states that the prohibitive coot of production, including high

wages, has been the direct cause of the closing down. The corporation was faced with the same position as that at the Mount Morgan mine, and found it impossible to carry on under the high cost of production. LENGTH OF LIFE. LONDON, August 6. The average length of life is increasing so rapidly that by 1960 it will be 72 years, the scale going up rapidly from 61 in 1930 to 65 in 1940 and 69 in 1950, according to figures given in the Medical Journal, which adds: “Judged on this basis, New Zealand, where the average ages are 62| for males and 65 for females, is the healthiest country. The figures for England and Wales at present are 56 for males and 60 for females. The American average is 58. OPERATION AT SEA. LONDON, August 6. An amazing operation for appendicitis on a seaman of the steamer Port Auckland was performed on the dining table by a Dunedin medical student, Mr Arthur Hetherington, while the ship was rounding Cape Horn. He had to improvise everything. The incision was made with a pair of toilet scissors, and the patient’s tongue was kept in position with a safety pin. After the operation the seaman had an attack of acute bronchitis, but he survived and was landed in the fittest condition. JEWELLERY THEFTS. LONDON, August 6. A New Zealander, Mr M. C. O’Brien, has invented a safety shutter to fit inside jewellers’ show windows to frustrate “smash and grab” raiders. The shutter descends so quickly simultaneously with giving the alarm that it is impossible to extract goods. It is not affected by vibration, but immediately the window is struck a heavy blow the percussion shutter attached to a glass tube destroys the vacuum and operates the shutter mechanism. MOUNT MORGAN MINE. BRISBANE, August 5. A meeting of union delegates and representatives of the Government and business men of Rockhampton and Mount Morgan discussed proposals for the resumption oi work at Mount Morgan mine. It was decided that in the interests of all sections of the community that operations should be continued as economically as possible. The meeting resolved itself into a committee to draft a scheme for resumption, including Government assistance. It is understood that negotiations will be opened with the liquidators of the Mount Morgan Company to ascertain what conditions they are prepared to make for the taking over of the mine and works. WHITE AUSTRALIABRISBANE, August 6. Dealing with the question of restricting the introduction of Southern Europeans into Australia, Mr Bruce said that in the last five months the excess of arrivals over departures of Italians was only 26. Mr Bruce indicated that if Australia adopted the attitude of restricting the immigration of Southern Europeans it might bring about an awkward situation • before the League of Nations, where, on two occasions, questions of the White Australia policy had been raised, and each time the Australian delegates had managed to brush it aside. The Commonwealth Government was in diplomatic touch with the Governments of all the nations concerned in this matter.

ANNIVERSARY OF WAR. LONDON, August 3. Crowds slowly passing the cenotaph tonight on the eve of the thirteenth anniversary of the war were surprised to see large German wreaths in a most preminent position at the base. One of oak leaves, woven with the blue and yellow ribbon of the German Republic, bore in bold German characters, “Deutsche Lufthansa Koln.” It was from the Cologne station of the German Air ways Combine. Another bore the words, “Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin,” and lay side by side with one from the French air line. Tire wreaths "were originally sent as a tribute to Captain Barnard, who was cremated, after which two lorry loads of wreaths were taken to the cenotaph. DOMINION LAWYERS. SYDNEY. August 3.. Referring to the adverse comments in New Zealand newspapers on the fact that New Zealand barristers and solicitors cannot practise in Australia, legal officials explain that New Zealand solicitors are not recognised by the authorities for the reason that in New Zealand thev are not required to serve a period of years as articled clerks as a part of their training. Such a procedure is looked upon by judges here as essential to the proper qualification of a solicitor. The admission of barristers was controlled bv Act of Parliament. 081 TUARY. • SYDNEY, August 2. Private advices received state that Emclie Polini, the actress, died in New York after a lengthy illness. Miss Polini was well known in Australa and New Zealand, where her histrionic ability and charmin-, manner gained her hosts o£ admirers. Her visit to Dunedin some four or five years ago ‘ will be recalled with pleasure by local theatre-goers.

LONDON, August 4. The death is announced of Mr John Dillon, the Irish Leader, after an abdominal operation. A FATHER S VENGEANCE. MADRID, August 6. The newspaper El Sol publishes a terrible story of a father's vengeance for his daughter, a convent pupil, who saw a man assault a nun in a Madrid convent. Though warned to keep silent she told her parents. She was maimed and illtreated, and locked in a room when she returned to the convent. The father, hearing no news, searched the institution, aided by the police. The girl’s plight so distracted him that he ran amuck with a revolver, killing eight nuns and wounding two. The newspaper censorship precludes further details.

CRUEL IMPERSONATION. MELBOURNE, August 5. A prisoner, after being sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for shop-break-ing, handed the judge a written confession in which he stated that for seven years he had impersonated a dead Australian soldier, and, having brought disgrace on the soldier’s name, he wished to have this made public and the family name restored. He further stated that’ the soldier’s mother had recognised him as her son, and that he had led her to believe he was her son. who had been killed in a brawl in New York. The judge, when sentencing the prisoner, said he had brought disgrace on a respectable family. AUSTRALIAN PENSIONS. BRISBANE. August 5. Mr Bruce announced that he intends to follow up the recommendation of the National Insurance Commission to place the present system of old age and invalid pensions on a sound and business-like basis. He proposes to make it compulsory for persons to pay a small contribution—just a few pence weekly—into a national fund to provide these pensions. The employers will also have to contribute a small amount in respect to their employees. Mr Bruce explains that in this way pensions will be removed from any idea of being a dole or suggestion of charity. THE WORLD IN DEBT. LONDON, August 3. “There is real danger of a world economic breakdown,” said Sir George Paish in a speech at the League of Nations Summer School, which is being held at Oxford. “The world has never before been in debt so deeply, and if there is a break in world unity such as many leading authorities fear, the result will be widespread starvation, leading to revolution. In such a contingency the loss of life may be greater than in the war. “America is giving credit on a scale which cannot possibly last, and the world’s leading bankers are of the opinion that a great crash must come unless she changes her financial policy.

PACIFIC RELATIONS. j HONOLULU. August 1. Mr R. L. Wilbur, chairman of the Institute of Pacific Relations, has cabled to President Coolidge stating that the meet- 1 ing was a highly profitable one. “The 1 British Commonwealth,” he said, “was 1 represented by an extraordinarily able 1 group, and it manifested the effort the ] British peoples are making to a-dapt their policies to the aspirations of the countries ] in the Pacific with which they are re- i lated.” HONOLULU, August 3. The Australian and New Zealand Delegations to the conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations have sailed for home in the Aorang WALL STREEP EXCITED. NEW YORK, August 5. Thousands of shares thrown into tho market at closing hour sent prices reeling as the volume of trading reached the highest peak of the year. Business conditions did not predicate high quotations for many stocks, and investors and speculators elected to withdraw their profits. The total sales for the day were 2,986,600 shares, of which 884,200 were recorded in the last hour. The ticker tape continued unrolling for 24 minutes after the market closed. Strength had been displayed throughout the market in the early part of the session, but the wave of selling gained momentum, and prices dropped sharply. However, Wall street is not worried much over the break, claiming that the market needed a technical reaction. THE FRENCH HOAX. BRUSSELS, August 6. Daudet and his colleague, Delset, have arrived here, and it is reported that they have taken a house in a suburb. Only one journalist succeeded in interviewing them. Referring to his adventures Daudet says: “We had hundreds of motor cars and 20 aeroplanes at our disposal, but we did not need to use them. We have for five weeks been leading the hanpy life of road and sky, throwing the whole of the gendarmerie and secret police off the scent. Hundreds of men and women have known our hiding places, but nothing leaked out. It was simply marvellous.” An eminent Belgian lawyer is of the opinion that it would be difficult for France to demand extradition, seeing that the affair is more or less a political one. BUILDING COLLAPSES. LONDON, August 6. An extraordinary spectacle was seen late at night in the heart of the city, when a huge building opposite the Royal Exchange, occupied by the Commercial

Union Assurance Company, collapsed. I'ortunateTy, 100 workmen engaged rebuilding Lloyd’s Bank, next door, heard ominous sounds, and gave warning to the police, who had time to divert traffic and rope off the crowds before the whole side of the seven-storey building hurtled into a 50ft excavation adjoining with a noise like rolling thunder. Floor after floor crashed in full view of the awed spectators, desks, chairs, and office paraphernalia being tumbled into a seemingly bottomless pit. The caretaker and his family had just returned from a holiday. When warned, the mother seized the babv and fled to safety. - SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL. RUGBY 7 , August 5. A movement is afoot to acquire Dorchester House, a well-known mansion in the "west end of London, with the object of establishing a Shakespeare memorial theatre. The scheme was started some months ago by the Shakespeare Memorial Committee, which has already received guarantees of over £200,000. A further £lOO,OOO is required. It is proposed that Dorchester House should not only provide a theatre for the plays of Shakespeare and other great British dramatists, but also that it should become a literary and artistic centre for the Empire. With its beautiful Italian Renaissance architecture the mansion would, it is suggested, be eminently suitable for art exhibitions. WIRELESS TRIUMPH. LONDON, August 6. The Daily Express states that the world is on the eve of a new wireless triumph —the perfection of a high-speed super beam, whereby photography will displace the dot dash system. It will revolutionise wireless communication, and it is anticipated that facsimile messages will be transmitted across the ocean at the rate of 300 words a minute. Instead of the printed words of an. ordinary message, the actual handwriting of the sender will be reproduced exactly as it is handed in at London. Photographs will be flashed to America at 10 times the present speed. The greatest secrecy is being maintained regarding this epoch-making discovery, which is the crowning triumph of patient research by British radio experts in a secret laboratory at Marconi station, Chelmsford. Before the system is brought into operation, world-wide patents will be taken out. Tests carried out on a short wave length from Chelmsford were successful, and arrangements have been made to extend the tests.

RUMANIAN THRONE. LONDON, August 3. “Prince Carol’s adherents are determined to break the power of M. Bratiano and make Prince Carol King,” says the special correspondent of the Daily Express, in a message from Bucharest. He alleges that more than 80,000 telegrams of condolence addressed by Rumanians to Prince Carol are lying undespatched at the Ministry of the Interior, and that the senders are under the observation of the secret police. The Ministry and army are honeycombed with supporters secretly working for his return. PARIS, August 6. Reports from Bucharest state that if King Ferdinand’s bequest of Pelen Palace to his grandson is carried out, it will mean the absorption of half of the late monarch’s fortune, leaving insufficient to pay tho legal shares to'his own children. The Government proposes to buy the palace and chateau, hand them to Michael, and give the proceeds to the King’s children.

TRADE UNIONS. PARTS, August 2. The Labour leaders of 26 nations, representing 13,000,000 workers, attended the opening of the International Federation of Trade Unions, known as the Amsterdam Internationale. The President declared that the old capitalist countries were in a state of depression, and that the importance of Britain in the British Empire was being diminished day by day. Britain before the war was the centre of manufacturing, and her products were imposed on the colonies. Britain now was an oldfashioned workshop in a world of rival workshops. LONDON, August. 4. Now that the Trade Union Act is law the Civil Service Clerical Association, with a membership of 19,000, is winding up its political fund and terminating its affiliation with the Labour Party and Trades Union Congress. It is also revising its rules so that in future it will only cooperate with non-political organisations. MR STANLEY BALDWIN. RUGBY, August 4. The Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin), who is now visiting Canada, celebrated his 60th birthday yesterday, and was the recipient of many telegrams of congratulations, including one from the King and the Queen. One of Mr Baldwin’s principal engagements yesterday was a speech at the Canadian Club, Ottawa, at which he referred to industrial conditions in England. He said that Britain was slowly moving to a new industrial balance and commercially to a better situation in her markets. Great Britain has averaged 10 per cent, of unemployment for several years, which means that 90 per cent, were employed. He thought it was regrettable that further efforts had not been made in the dominions to bring these unemployed men to work within ’he Empire. The so-called dole, added Mr Baldwin, was much misrepresented. It was not a dole but a benefit received from an insurance scheme to which the workers themi selves contributed.

PRICKLY PEAR PEST. BRISBANE, August 2. The Government’s efforts to cope with the prickly pear pest by utilising the services of the cochineal insect and the catablastus caterpillar are being attended with hopeful results. In February, 1926, 20,000 eggs of the catablastus moth were imported and placed on the leaves of the pear at Emerald. These hatched well, and now millions of caterpillars have spread themselves over an area exceeding a radius of two miles from the place of their release, and within that area there are evident signs of their destruction. The caterpillar does its work thoroughly and never leaves its clump of pear till it reduces it to a mass of fibre, which can easily be destroyed by fire. The insect also leaves behind it a substance which has a poisonous effect on the pear, preventing its regrowth, and which it is hoped may be utilised as the basis of a serum from which a cheap spray for destroying the pest on a large scale may be obtained.

The caterpillar is proving more effective than the cochineal insect. The former does as much destruction in a day as the latter does in a month.

SEEING-IN. BERLIN, August 2. Denes Von Mehaly, a young Hungarian, who is consulting engineer to the German General Electric Company, and has 48 inventions to his credit, has perfected a remarkable apparatus whereby everything broadcast is visible on a screen approximately 9ft by 16ft. He is negotiating on tho London market for money to launch it and declares that in 1928 sets will be selling in England. A two-valve receiver will enable people to see kinemas, plays, tennis matches, and boxing, together with incidental words and sounds. The invention is based on the same principle as wireless telephony, therefore ho anticipates that it is possible to relay • “seeing-in” programmes, the same as sound broadcasting. LONDON, August 6. Von Mehaly’s television invention will be marketed in London at £2O. Outwardly it has the appearance of a large box camera, in one end of which is an opaque glass screen 12in by 14in, whereon the moving pictures appear. The discovery of the new properties of selenium made possible the use of it. in a photographic electric cell or electric eye. This outwardly has the appearance of a black cylinder 6in long. The electric eye sees consecutive fragments of a scene at the transmission end and sends out corresponding wireless waves, which are picked up through a corresponding eye. Von Mehaly’s invention can also be used in conjunction with ordinary telephoning.

ACROSS THE CHANNEL. LONDON. August 5. A London clerk named Temme swam the Channel from. Cape Gris Nez to a point near Dover. Temme is the first person to cross the Channel this season. There are as many aspirants as there were last year, including Mrs Corson, who will make an attempt from Dover. Temme's official time was 14hr 29min, beating that of Miss Ederle by smin. Temme left Gris Nez at 1.10 in the morning, and landed at Lydden’s Point, midway between Folkestone and Dover, at 3.39 p.m. Temme is 21 years of age. He is 6ft 2in in height, and his weight is 15st 111 b. ID is a runner as well as a swimmer. The sea was smooth.

The following is a list of the swimmers who have succeeded in crossing the English Channel :— > 1875, August 24-25.—Captain Matthew Webb (Dover to Calais). Time, 21hr 45min. 1911, September 5-6.—Thomas N. Burgess (South Foreland to Le Chatelet, near Cape Gris Nez). Time, 22hr 35min. 1923, August 6.—Henry Sullivan (Dover to Calais). Time, 27hr 25min. 1923, August 11. —Enrique Sebastian Tiraboschi (Calais to Dover). Time, 16hr 23min. 1923, September B.—C. Toth (Calais to Dover). Time, 16hr 58min. 1926, August 6.—Miss Gertrude Ederle (Cape Gris Nez to Kingsdown, Kent). Time, 14hr 34min. 1926, August 27-28.—Mrs Corson (Cape Gris Nez to Dover). Time, 15hr 38min. 1926, August 30.—Herr Vierkotter (Cape Gris Nez to South Foreland). Time, 12hr 42min. 1926, September 10.— Georges Michel. Time, llhr 6min. 1926, September 17.—Derham. Time, 13hr 56min. 1927, August 5. —Temme. Time, 14hr 29min.