NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 45

NEWS BY CABLE.

STERLING EXCHANGE. LONDON, August 7. Sterling exchange has rallied, but quotations are still below the gold export point. The Bank of England lost £2,547,627 to France and Holland, but to-day’s efflux is expected to be small. CROSSED IN LOVE. BERLIN, August 4. Leaping from a third floor window in Berlin after a quarrel with his sweetheart, a man fell upon and killed a passer-by. He himself escaped death, but suffered injuries. MR LLO'T) GEORGE. RUGBY, August 4. It is stated that Mr Lloyd George’s progress continues to be satisfactory, and his strength is well maintained. He is free from pain and sleeps well. His general condition is improving. A RECORD IN UNEMPLOYMENT. LONDON, August 5. The unemployed in Britain now num her 2,713,350, the highest recorded official returns. This is an increase of 52,017 for the week. PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. NEW YORK, August 8. •’ The Secretary for War (Mr P. J. Hurley) sailed for the Philippines on Saturday as official inquirer on behalf of President Hoover into the question of Philippine independence. MR MONTAGU NORMAN. RUGBY, August 7. Mr Montagu Norman, governor of the Bank of England, has been indisposed by a sharp attack of nervous dyspepsia It was stated to-day that he had recovered. - WAGES FOR MINERS. RUGBY, August 4. A settlement between the Scottish coa I owners and miners was ratified yesterday, when, at a meeting of the Scottish Coal Conciliation Board, an agreement ■was signed respecting new wage terms for a 7}-hour shift. EDGE WARE MURDER. LONDON, August 5. William Shelley, aged 77, and Oliver Newman, aged Gl, navvies, were simultaneously exempted at Pentonville for the murder of Herbert Ayres at Edgeware early in June. His body was found partially burned on a refuse dump. THE NAUTILUS. OSLO, August G. The newspaper Tidens Tegn says that the Nautilus will at present carry out only exploration in the vicinity of Spitsbergen, and perhaps a new submarine will attempt to make a voyage to the Pole in 1932. FRENCH CASINOS. PARIS, August G. France's gambling industry is severely depressed, and the aggregate gross receipts of seven of the leading casinos last year declined by 21 per eent. compared with 1929, resulting in a loss of £BO,OOO. Those who patronise the casino complain of the excessive taxation.

VISCOUNT GREY. LONDON, August 8. Viscount Grey, speaking at Embleton. said that the danger of the financial position was so great amt so real that the Liberal Party should oppose increases in public expenditure, and vote for a policy of economy, even if it involved the defeat of the Government. BRITISH ASSOCIATION. RUGBY, August 7. General Smuts left Capetown to-day on his way to preside at the centenary gathering in London next month of the British Association. Before leaving General Smuts stated, in an interview, that it was his intention to investigate for himself the financial crisis. CANADIAN PRAIRIES. OTTAWA, August 5. Excessive high temperatures during late July further reduced the crop prospects in the drought areas in the prairie provinces, but in the last week cooler weather and good rains have helped to mend the situation, according to a report by the Bureau of Statistics. DIOMEDE IN APIA. APIA, August 7. The warship Diomede arrived on Thursday afternoon, and will remain here till August 11. A round of festivities has been arranged. The Veronica will arrive on the 11th to convey the Administrator to the Tokelau Islands, returning on the 17th, and leaving Apia on the 20th. THE DUKE OF YORK. RUGBY, August 5. The Duke of York to-day arrived at Southwold, Suffolk, on a visit to his annual holiday camp for public school boys and boys in industry. There are 400 lads under canvas, and the camp

is organised in sections of 10 public school boys and 10 industrial boys. The Duke will spend the night and the most of to-morrow with his guests. TRAIN WRECKERS. BERLIN, August 8. Three passengers were seriously hint and 16 slightly when an attempt was made to blow up the Basle-Berlin express. The driver, while passing Juertbog station, hear a noise, and immediately applied the brakes in an attempt to stop. Before he was able to do so seven passenger coaches, the luggage van. and the dining car were derailed, and fell down a bank. DROWNING TRAGEDY. LONDON, August G. The second triple drowning tragedy this week occurred when Boy Scout brothers named William and Albert Rutters were caught in a current at Berwick - upon - Tweed. Scoutmaster Adams attempted to rescue tjie boys, who pulled him under. A Girl Guide repeatedly dived in attempts, to make a rescue until she was pulled from the river exhausted. THE LEAGUE COUNCIL. RUGBY, August 6. A message from Geneva states that the agenda which has been issued for the next meeting in September of the Council of the League of Nations includes, among other items, the AustroGerman Customs union, the German minorities in Upper Silesia, the termination of mandates, with particular reference to Iraq, and the limitation of the manufacture of drugs. TRAGEDY AT SEASIDE. LONDON, August 4. While she was at the seaside with her son, John, and daughters, Ruth and Ursula, a widow. Mrs Viliseed, of llaslcmere, Surrey, sat on the beach at Chichester Harbour and helplessly watched all three being drowned. They were all strong swimmers. The boy tried to save his sisters, but he was swept to his death by strong currents. The deaths by drowning on bank holiday totalled 12. THE QUEEN’S NIECE. LONDON, August 7. The engagement is confirmed of Lady May Cambridge (a niece of the Queen) to Captain Henry Abel Smith, of the Horse Guards, who was A.D.C. to the Earl of Athlone when he was GovernorGeneral of South Africa. Captain Smith is 32 years of age, and Lady May Cambridge 25 years. Lady May Helen Emma Cambridge is a daughter of the Earl of Athlone, who is a brother of Queen Mary.

THE SATURDAY REVIEW. LONDON, August 8. The Saturday Review is being merged into the Spectator with next week’s issue. The Saturday Review is literally a Review, not a newspaper. It gives no “news” but “reviews” all passing occurrences, as well as every new work of importance, and everything novel in the arts or in science. The Spectator is a non-party weekly review of politics, literature, and the arts. BELGIAN CONGO. CAPETOWN, August G. There is a serious revolt in the Belgian Congo as the result of the increase in the native tax. A headman who was collecting the tax was brutally murdered. A force of 400 natives, with white officers, which left Elizabethville, was confronted with 2000 rebels armed I with rilles and bows and arrows. Ten were killed in the first encounter. It is known that two officers ami their wives and one priest were killed. The revolt is difficult to suppress owing to the wild nature of the country. RAID ON A CHURCH. WARSAW, August 5. It has been reported from Vilna that a detachment of the O.G.P.U. raided a Roman Catholic church in a village near the Russian frontier, and shot dead seven and wounded 14 worshippers, and arrested 145. The leader of the detach ment stated that he was informed that a meeting of counter-revolutionaries was being held in the church. The troops got out of control when they were re fused admission. The shooting caused a panic among the Roman Catholic population. FLOODS IN LONDON. RUGBY, August G. Thunderstorms of exceptional severity swept over England last night, and there was serious flooding in certain parts of the Loudon district, while some damage to property was done by lightning. The flooding of tunnels necessitated the temporary closing of some suburban stations, and trains were held up. Over one inch of rain fell in half an hour in the western and central districts. The heaviest rainfall recorded was at Petersfield, Hampshire, where 21in was registered in 55 minutes. London telephone exchanges suffered interference owing mainly to short circuits caused by flooding.

CANADIAN TRADE. VANCOUVER, August 6. “The financial recovery of Australia will greatly enhance the value of the trade preferences extended to Canada, and the greatest help that Canadians can give towards this recovery is to buy more freely of Australian goods under the treaty,” says the Royal Bank of Canada, which issues a monthly letter in which it presents a convincing picture of the opportunity which the treaty opens for some of Canada’s greatest industries. LORD READING’S MARRIAGE. RUGBY, August 5. The engagement is announced of Lord Reading, a former Viceroy of India, to Miss Stella Chasnaud. The wedding will take place to-morrow. Miss Chasnaud was on the vice-regal staff in India, and since returning to England has, as Lord Reading’s principal secretary, helped him in his political and business interests, and notably in his work on the Round Table Conference. She is stated to possess exceptional knowledge of Indian affairs, and of polities and business, and is a remarkable linguist. ZULU DISTURBANCES. CAPETOWN, August 5. The arrest of Giba, the Pretender to the Regency of a minor Zulu tribe, and 200 of his followers on a charge of public violence terminated an alarmist week-end in Northern Natal. On Saturday night the uncle of the Pretender was found assassinated. Giba and 700 followers attacked the kraal of the Regent, who waited til] dawn on Sunday, and routed Giba and chased him for 12 miles. Women and children took refuge in the mountains. Europeans were not molested. Aeroplanes enabled a mobile squadron to master the situation. Thirteen bodies were found. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. VANCOUVER, August 6. A ipessage from Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) states that the Liberal Government, headed by Mr W. M. Lea, was defeated in the provincial elections. Mr J. D. Stewart (the former Conservative Premier) will head the new Government. The state of the political parties at the time of the dissolution was as follows: —Liberals 22, Conservatives 6, and two seats were vacant. In the new Parliament there are 19 Conservatives and 10 Liberals, while one is doubtful. A LINER ASHORE. RIO DE JANEIRO, August 8. Eighty-seven passengers of the southbound Munson liner Western World were en route to Rio De Janeiro on Saturday night on board the vessel General Osorio, while the Western World awaited assistance on the rocks on which she grounded before dawn off Ponta Dobio, north of Santos. The crew of IGG are said to be in no danger. The General Osorio took the passengers off during the afternoon. The passengers from the Western World arrived late on Saturday night. The officers of the General Osorio said that the Western World was in a dangerous position, and should a wind come up it will be difficult to refloat her.

MOTORLESS FLIGHTS. RUGBY, August 4. In flying circles amateurs who are devoted to the new sport of "gliding” are already looking forward to the in ternational gliding competition, which will be held under the auspices of the British Gliding Association in the first week of October, while the International Commission for Motorless Flights is in session in London It is thought that the British entrants will be able ♦<> show the remarkable progress that has been made in British gliding since the last international meeting in England in 1922, and enthusiasts point to the new British duration record of 6 hours set up by Flying-officer Mole last week end as proof of the high standard reached. British firms have taken up the construction of gliders, and are now pro ducing types of high efficiency. LABOUR MEMBER FINED. LONDON, August 4. Mr M'Govern and eight others were fined £3. in default 20 days’ imprisonment. Mr M'Govern exclaimed from the dock: “I don’t want time to pay. I will go to prison.” But as Mr M'Gov ern’s counsel asked that time be given the magistrate ordered that 10 days be allowed in which to pay. Mr M'Govern declares his intention of persisting in his free speech campaign. A previous message stated: Scenes unprecedented in the history of Glasgow occurred during the trial of Mr J M'Govern, M.P., qrtid a number of “ tram preacher ” Communists, who were charged with speaking without a permit at Glasgow Green. Crowds entered the court preceded by a preacher bearing a cross, which he refused to remove. Hymnsinging followed, until the magistrate’s arrival, whereupon Mr M'Govern and his comrades stood up and led boisterous singing of “ Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.” The magistrate ordered the court to be cleared. One defendant was fined GOs, or 20 days’ imprisonment. The remainder of the cases were adjourned. RAISED FROM THE DEEP. i PARIS, August 6. A message from St. Nazaire states that, with her hull covered with sea-

weed, her decks filled with slime, and her tattered flag hanging from the mast, the steamer St. Philibert was beached. Four bodies were found in a preliminary search and other bodies are still being washed up on shore. Grim discoveries are being made on board the steamer St. Philibert. Divers are mystified by finding bodies in the forehold, which had no ladders, and should, according to the regulations, have been battened down. Among 15 corpses recovered were those of a man and a woman who met death elapsed in each others arms. There, were no bodies in the saloon, where the buffet was situated, but there were unopened bottles of wine and boxes full of untouched lifebelts.

On June 15 the pleasure steamer St. Philibert, of 189 tons, which was carrying 500 excursionists, foundered on Chatellier Reef, near St. Nazaire. There were only about eight survivors.

THE BANK OF ENGLAND. LONDON, August 3. The Times says that the action of the Bank of France and the United States Reserve Bank in giving a credit I of £50,000,000 to the Bank of England ' is a piece of far-sighted financial states • manship and a much-needed demonstra- : tion of the financial solidarity which is i essential to the stability of the world - banks. The agreement gives the Brtish | Government breathing space to take ' effective steps to balance its Budget. RUGBY. August 4. The developments in connection with the credit arrangements for the Bank of England which occurred during the weekend are reflected in the condition of the stock markets to-day. The effect of the recent banking developments is regarded as an entirely favourable factor in the general outlook of the London Stock Exchange and in the Foreign Exchange market. When business was re sinned this morning after the holiday the rate of exchange London on New York was 4.55 J, and London on Paris 123.90. In the stock markets the marked strength of certain leading gilt-edged i securities was the outstanding feature of the business when the Exchange opened. SOVIET BUTTER. LONDON, August 4. “ Why this fuss about the Soviet imitating New Zealand butter boxes?” asks Mr 11. E. Davis, of the New Zea land Dairy Producers’ Association. He said that Ukraine butter had been packed in exact replicas of the New Zealand eases, but that was not misleading to anyone. When the Soviet began exporting, experts investigated the methods of butter packing in London, and recommended the adoption of New Zealand cases and grading as the best The Soviet slavishly followed the Do minion’s methods, even to the shape of the marks. The Smolny’s consignment did not differ from previous shipmentMr Norton, of the Australian Dairy Board, agreed that it was absurd to accuse the Soviet of disguising its butter as New Zealand butter. Russia had no need of trickery to gain a market. There were 200,000 cases of Siberian butter in cold storage, which was reducing prices. LONDON, August 5. The Empire Marketing Board reports that for the week ended July 25 Russia topped the list of 19 countries which export butter to Britain, with 55,180 ewt. compared with 53.798 cwt from Denmark, and 3S,Slscwt from New Zealand. THE PORT OF LONDON. LONDON. August 5, The commercial manager of the Port of London made a statement to the Australian Press Association in reply to the Traders’ Committee report. He said: “1 am not speaking for the whole of the United Kingdom, because the rates vary, but as far as London is concerned there has been a substantia) reduction in the past eight years, including 7) per cent, on dues and shiprents in February, 1,925, a further 24 per cent, reduction in 1927, and still another in 1930. Then the ship-rent rate was further reduced in September, 1930. There have also been reductions in the bulk handling of grain.” A previous message read as follows:— The Traders’ Committee on the co-ordina-tion of dock charges, which includes representatives of the Chamber of Shipping, the Associated Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of British Industries, and many other trading associations, in its report protests against the continuance of the present high rates and points out that there has been practically no reduction at British ports for the past seven or eight years, though wholesale prices have fallen by 34 per cent.,, the cost of living by 15, and freights by’ 33 per cent. The dues per ton on ships discharging whole cargoes of grain worked out at 5d at Belgian ports, 7.21 d at French ports, 5.02 d at Dutch ports, 10. Sid at German ports, and 19.73 d at ports of the United Kingdom.

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY. RUGBY, August 4. Fine weather prevailed yesterday over a great part of England and very large Aiigust Bank Holiday crowds thronged the beaches. Seaside places and riverside resorts proved popular, and Hampstead Heath, the downs and public parks around London were in possession of picnic parties. ’ Road

traffic was exceptionally heavy, but there was a remarkable absence of serious accidents, due, it ia believed, to the desire shown by drivers of motor cars and coaches to. observe the social and moral obligations suggested in the Ministry of Transport’s highway code. Railway traffic was also heavy, a large number of special trains being run to Sussex and Kent resorts from London, while Southend-on-Sea, where, it is stated, 6000 people slept on the beach on Sunday night, experienced the usual invasion. No fewer than 110 trains with holiday makers arrived in Blackpool during the day. Several bathing fatalities have been reported, included in these being three members of one family who were drowned at Wittering, near the Isle of Wight. Yesterday was the sixtieth anniversary of the institution of August Bank Holiday, which was first observed in 1871, after the passing of the Act in that year.

I he end of the bank holiday week-end coincided with a severe thunderstorm which broke over London and the southeastern counties last night, and crowds who were returning late were drenched by heavy rain. High seas in the channel and the Thames estuary buffeted pleasure steamers, delaying some for four or five hours, and the crossing from France was declared to be the worst this summer. The storm was followed to-day by a thick fog over the sea, in which an oil tanker of GOuO tons went ashore near Dungeness, but was refloated this afternoon, and all shipping was slowed down.