People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 23 February 1934, Page 6

People and Their Doings.

Mr Pu Yi, the Empetov of Manchukuo, will be Enthroned on Thursday : The Minister Who Would Not Lie : The Jonker Diamond Sold.

'jpHE 726-CARATS (about soz) “ Jonker ” diamond, as it is called, which was found by Mr Geert Jonker with a native helper near Pretoria, was sold in Johannesburg to Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, chairman of the Diamond Corporation, Ltd., for between £60,000 and £70,000. Mr Jonker said then that he was going to buy another 2000 acres next to his farm for stock raising. He also announced -that he was buying a silk hat and frock coat, and a silk dress and a radio set for his wife. The native who picked up the diamond, which is claimed to be the fourth largest in the world, would receive a reward and be made head boy on Mr Jonker’s farm. On the night after the stone was found it was tied in a stocking round Mrs Jonker’s neck, and she was sent to bed while the rest of the family and a neighbour sat up till dawn with loaded revolvers. The diamond was taken to Johannesburg by motorcar in the pocket of the manager of the Premier Mine, where the Cullinan diamond (3025 carats) was dug up in 1905, and which is three miles from Mr Jonker's farm.

D R I. C. WARD, who returned tv> Eng-

land recently from six months’ study of native languages in Southern Nigeria, brought back the vocabulary of eleven dialects of Ibo and five dialects of Efik-Ibibio. One of her big problems was to make distinctions between the sounds. On one occasion a native spent the whole morning repeating two words before she could identify the difference in intonation. Dr Ward’s researches are of great importance, since the mass of dialects are bound to disappear, and most likely the languages themselves, although Ibo is spoken by five million people and Efik-Ibibio by half a million. Dr Ward travelled in lorries from tribe to tribe, staying mainly at “ civilised ” places and astonishing the negroes with the excellence of her Ibo and Efik accent. One little Efik girl appeared at Dr Ward’s house and announced, ‘‘My grandmother says you may have me.”

r rHE ENTHRONEMENT of .Mr Pu Yi, the former “ Boy Emperor* of China, as Emperor of Manchukuo will take place next Thursday. It will be a simple but impressive ceremony in his modest residence in Chang-chun. Because the wearing of traditional Manchu robes might suggest a revival of the old Manchu dynasty, Mr Pu Yi will probably be enthroned in civilian clothes, or in a field-marshal’s uniform. In view of his approaching enthronement, Mr Pu Yi recently sent King George, through Sir Reginald Johnston, his former tutor, three photographs of himself—one in civilian attire, one in “ plus fours ” and one in uniform. According to an official statement, the new Emperor will rule as a Constitutional monarch. He will honour all international obligations and work for peace. There will be no Parliament, but the present Privy Council and State Council will be continued. The Constitution will be patterned largely after that of Japan. When Mr Pu Yi ascends the throne, it will be by “ Divine will ” and not by virtue of the people’s petitions, which, it is stated, flooded the chief executive. 9 9 9 THE INCIDENT of the Minister who would not lie is recalled by an English correspondent through the recent death of M. de Selves, the distinguished French politician and ex-President of the Senate. He was Foreign Minister to M. Caillaux in 1011, when negotiations were proceeding between France and Germany concerning the Cameroons, and it was his refusal to tell a lie to the Senate Foreign Affairs Commission that bro'ught M. Caillaux’s Government tumbling. M. Clemenceau challenged M. de Selves to back up his Premier by repeating a statement that there had been no secret negotiations with Germany. M. Clemenceau knew that M. Caillaux had been dealing with the German Government through a private banker, and realised that M. de Selves, with his horror of duplicity, would be certain to betray himself. M. Clemenceau was right. That night M. de Selves resigned and next day the Ministry had fallen.

"RESIDES PRINCE GEORGE, five other Royal vovagers have left England for the rest of the winter. Princess Helena Victoria and Princess Marie Louise went for a cruise in the Canadian Pacific liner Duchess of Richmond, which sailed for the West Indies. Princess Marie Louise, who is one of the most travelled members of her family, has already been to the West Indies more than once. Last January she went for a cruise down the east coast of Africa. Later on, Princess Alice and the Earl of Athlone are to visit the Bahamas, where they will be the guests of the Governor, Sir Bede Clifford, who was Lord Athlone’s secretary in South Africa ten years ago. The Prince of Wales had contemplated visiting the Bahamas, too, this winter, but finally decided to postpone the trip! The Duke of Connaught left for his Riviera home on February 7. He will remain at Cap Ferrat until early in May. A report “ on good authority ” that the Princess Royal had rented an American banker’s villa at Villefrancbe, close to that of her uncle, was promptly repudiated officially. 9 9 CIXTY YEARS AGO (from the "Star" of February 23, 1874) : Railway Material,—The Pleiades, which is now unloading, had on board eight narrow gauge engines, and one engine for shunting on the reclaimed land. Two engines have been discharged, and the others, including the shunting engine, are still on board. Auckland, February 23.—The Superintendent was enthusiastically received by the Natives of Rotorua, who presented a memorial urging that steps should be taken to stop travellers disfiguring the Te Tarata terraces by writing their names and breaking off specimens. St Patrick’s Day.—A general meeting of Irishmen, desirous of seeing St Patrick’s Day observed in a proper manner, is advertised to be held at the Foresters’ Hotel, Oxford Terrace, to-morrow evening, to receive the report of the committee appointed at the preliminary meeting on Sunday evening last.