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Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 23 August 1926, Page 6

The phenomenally low death-rate of New Zealand is being widely commented on by writers in medical journals and by statisticians. Professor E- M. East, of Harvard University, in an article in "Current History," says:— "ln the new world to the east, Australia and New Zealand, rapid growth continues, but it continues on the inertia of past growth. The Australian birth-rate was 28.2 and the death-rate 10.7 in 1913. Ten years later the rates were 23.2 and 9-5 respectively. New Zealand showed a birth-rate of 261 and a death-rate of 9.5 in 1913-. At the end of a decade the rates were 21.9 and 9.0. The death-rate of New Zealand in 1924 was 8.3, the lowest the world has ever seen- One must not be deceived by these figures, however. A death-rate of even 10 per thousand annually cannot be continued, for this would mean an average life of a century. Such death-rates can appear only in new countries largely peopled by vigorous youths. A diminishing growth rate must come to Australia and New Zealand soon, and the presage of this shows in the turn of the birth-rate."

The long, narrow Stanley Bay wharf. nearly a-quarter of a mile in length, is well known to everyone who crosses the harbour. How it came to be used as an illustration in connection with the recent hospital inquiry, and thereby got extra prominence, was told at the end of the week. A young student, who says he is going to take up the study of the law. and who had attended twice' at the inquiry, was asked by a much younger boy who was travelling by the same ferry boat" what cross-examination meant. "Well," he answered, "supposing you were put in the box and were asked to give evidence about Stanley Bay wharf, the lawyer would ask you how many piles the wharf had, then he would ask how many planks it had, and after you had answered his questions as well as you could, the lawyer would bawl out at you and ask, 'Xow, I want you to swear, and remember you are on oath, that there is a wharf there it all! ,, " "Gum! is that cross-examination?" replied the younger boy.

In predicting earthquakes and other phenomena, Mr. J. F. Field, of Auckland, has excited much interest in various parts of New Zealand —and beyond—and he has numerous correspondents in various quarters. One of these has just telegraphed him from Wellington that a sharp shock of earthquake was felt on Saturday. This coincides with Mr. Field's prediction some time back that there would be earthquake activity between the 20th and 2(sth of this present month. Talking to a "Star" reporter this morning Mr. Field said that after the present activity we need not expect anything more until about the end of next April. He thought there would probably be an alarming 'quake about September 20 of next year. Mr. Field contends that the solar energy not only governs these earth movements, but that it allects such personal things as surgical operations, collapse under anesthetic, sudden death from heart failure! and similar mishaps. He was asked the other day by a correspondent as. to the best date upon which to undergo a certain rather delicate operation. Mr. Field worked out the figures and found that the date suggested in the letter would not be a favourable one, and advised that September 21 next, at about 9 a.m., would be the best and safest day and time for the operation. Much as this seems to resemble astrology there is nothing of the kind about Mr. Field's theory, his results being obtained with the cold matter-of-fact aid to figures. '

The troubles of the trams are many, but most of them are the little domestic jars that come in daily toil, like this incident noticed on the route. A waiting passenger (a lady) standing expectantly by the pavement is swooped upon by a bus, just as the tram approaches. The bus is determined, so is the passenger, while the tram waits sweetly in the rear. Taking her life in her hand she supports municipal enterprise, and the bus sails gently away and manages to remain just far enough on the tram lines to hold the tram back, but nearing a stationary policeman shakes her skirts and hurries by with a, sweet smirk. The embarraessed tram proceeds, and near the Town Hall finds that a motor has taken the centre of the tram lines to "fall asleep." When the polite tram slows up, the man in charge bundles out and makes a few passes before its eyes, which rouse it from slumber, and it casually drifts out of the way in a languid manner. The life of a motornian here certainly lacks the repose of the Vere de Vere.

"These questions are always very difficult. It is hard to know whether one is doing the right thing " remarked the Chief .Justice in the Supreme Court recently when determining the amount to be paid by a husband in connection with a divorce action. "I think it is not in the public interest," said his Honor, ■'that a man should be called on to pay in support of a divorced wife more than he can reasonably afford to enable him to live decently in his station of life." Later in the same case, when considering costs, his Honor remarked that he wondered how people in some circumstances could afford to pay expenses incurred in connection with Court proceedings. It was very desirable, as far as possible, that they should be minimised.

The formation of the Ladies Mile, Remuera, is being steading pushed on with and when the work is completed the road will be a good one for vehicles. Owing to it being a ridge road between Ellerslie racecourse, which was formerly a swamp, and the large area of low-lying land on the other side around St- John's Lake, it has been found necessary to erect no less than four stone walls surmounted by fences in several places. Also the footpaths are being formed on the dish. Had not this course been adopted it would have necessitated building footpaths half-way up some of the fences to private property-

During the discussion at the City Council meeting concerning the cabaret at Point Chevalier, Mr. T. Bloodworth was reported to have said he was not a prohibitionist. As a matter of fact, Mr. Bloodworth said that he was a prohibitionst, and the mistake would be obvious to all who know his firmly held views on this question.

The courage and resource of Mr. Charles Ashtun, plasterer, Oamaru, in connection with the mishap to the express from Christchurch last Saturday are warmly praised by fellow passengers (states the Oamaru correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times.") When the occupants of the carriage next to the engine suddenly became aware that something was amiss considerable jolting being experienced and pebbles being thrown from the track, Mr. Ashton realised that quick action was necessary, and decided on'the highly risky task of attracting the engine-driver's attention rather than wasting time going to the back of the train to tell the guard what had happened. With the train tearing along at a speed estimated at 40 miles an hour, he scrambled out on to the engine and made his way along the side of the tender towards the driver, while the anxious passengers looked on fearing that at any moment he would lose his insecure position. However, he hung on grimly, but failed to attract the attention of the driver. X-othin<r rlauntod. he crawled back and along the opposite side of the tender, and was able to make the fireman understand that something had gone wrontr. Tin , train was quickly brought to a stop.

A gigantic jelly fish was seen floating near the end of the Stanlayßay jetty on Saturday, and attracted a good deal oF interest to passengers by ferry boat, who watched with much interest' its many colours of beautiful Imp as it changed its position in the water. The smaller species of jelly fish is well known in the harbour, and come in shoals, but the solitary specimen seen on Saturday was a splendid specimen, and must have been of great weight.

The occasions on which a horse has hauled a hapless motor car out of a hole have been many and varied, hut how often has an automobile been called on to get Dobbin out of a fix? (asks the "Manawatu Daily Times.") A eton North firm of garage proprietors recently received a call to go to the help of a horse that had become bogged in a drain. The motor breakdown wagon, which had a crane attachment, was placed in position, and the animal was duly hoisted out. As a protest against the indignity it had been put to. tbe horse commenced to lash out once it was free of the slush, but on being lowered to the ground again, crumpled up in a heap through weakness, and it was found necessary to keep it suspended until its circulation was restored.

As Mr. Richard Hammond, need 30 -rears, of Auckland, was travelling to Whangaroa by launch on Friday, one of his feet became entangled in the flywheel of the engine. He was removed to Whangarei, and was admitted to the hospital. where an examination disclosed that bis foot had been badly crushed «rrecessitating the removal of two toes. An operation took place immediately. Latest reports state that the sufferer is making splendid progress.