NEWS IN BRIEF

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3445, 9 February 1912, Page 2

NEWS IN BRIEF

The German Australian shipping line has declared a dividend of 11 per cent. John Roberts is suing George Gray the voung Australian billiard player, for a' breach of contract signed in 1910. The High Court has ordered that the trial be not postponed, despite difficulties in connection with affidavits, owing to the father being unable to remember whether his son was born m 1891 or 1892. Gray has sent to Australia for his birth certificate. The English imports for January increased by £4,309,161, and the reexports by £953,154. ... ~ Morse, the American “lee Ring, serving a sentence for misapplying the funds of the Mercantile National Bank, who was reported to be dying, is improving rapidly. President Taft has pardoned him. - t . The Dickens centenary is being celebrated throughout England by dinners, meetings, readings, pageants, and theatres. Floral tributes were placed on the grave by several members of the family, and by the Dickens’ Clubs in the "United States and elsewhere. A laurel memorial was placed in Rochester Cathedral from the Gadshill Dickens’ Home. , A sum of £ISOO damages was awarded against Jack Johnson for breach of contract to appear at music hph s three weeks at a salary of £2OO per week. Two well-known vignerons, Brierly and Fletcher, were killed at a level crossing at Barnawatha, Victoria, the train dashing into the vehicle m which they were seated. The Commonwealth wireless system starts on Monday. Any post-office receives messages for transmission, lhe rate of tenpence per word is regarded as exorbitant.