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Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 35, 9 February 1917, Page 6

An interesting find was made by tbe workmen this afternoon while excavating on the site of tbe old goods shed in the Auckland railway-yards in the shape of the remains of an. old muzzle-loading cannon. The gun, which is evidently a relic of the days when Fort Britomart used to guard the city's waterfront at this point, was nine feet in length, with a bore of four inches, and six inches at the muzzle. The cannon was buried some depth in the ground under the overhead bridge leading to the Beach Road, and--.showed large results of the ravages of time and oxidisation. M. Albert Thomas, Minister for Munitions, declares that the development In the production of war materials" In France Is making progress. To-day It has reached 1600, tons of explosives per day, whilst at the beginning of the year It only amounted to 130 tons. Germany is making 600,000 shells in 24 hours, but the Allies together supply 800,000 a day. These results are obtained with 21 per cent of female labour. A pathetic collection of things labelled "Useful Christmas gifts for' armless soldiers," seen In a West End store. Is described by the London correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian." The queerest one was called a "page-turner." A man who has lost both arms is grievously handicapped with a book, because he cannot himself tnrn over. The "page-turner" ia to help him to do that. Plctnre a length of light metal tubing. One end resting on the counter Is covered with a cylinder, of rubber. „The other end,, propped in the air by a couple of short legs, holds a round disc. The armless reader grips 'the disc with his teetb. gives the page a nib with the rubber cylinder, and over it goes. The egg-cnp that win not slither about tbe plate or the table when tbe egg is attacked by a" man with one arm is another simple device. A soup-plate with a small depression In the centre enables tbe one-armed man to capture the elusive .last spoonful without tilting the plate (which a onearmed cannot do). Another plate with" an Incurved edge helps him to catch his meat before it slips over the edge on to the table- ] cloth... TheseNcontrivances are the Inven-1 tion of the Master of Christ's College,! Cambridge. I