NEWS FROM ALL QUARTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 96, 24 April 1931, Page 3 (Supplement)

NEWS FROM ALL QUARTERS.

SOVIET "SPRING CLEAN." Madame Sokoldvakaya is at the head of a gigantic "spring clean" of the Soviet Civil service, and has reported that already 138,000 persons have been dismissed. THE INCOME TAX BABY. The Southend income tax authorities sent inccmo ta:c papers to a- boy aged eight months, with an inquiry, ordinarily resident in this country?" As no notice was taken of the letter, a further letter was sent, asking for a reply, and stating that the boy might be liable to lose "certain exemptions to which he was entitled." I WOMEN SHOULD SMOKE PIPES. Professor Samuel Stevens advised 50 co-eds attending a psychology class at Northwestern University, Illinois, to smoke a pipe instead of cigarettes. Young women smoke too fast and too frantically, he stated. "The only way to get genuine psychological benefit out of smoking," said the professor, "is to completely relax. That ia why men find a pipe more satisfying than a hurried cigarette. If you really enjoy smoking, smoke a pipe." FADING "EL DORADO." The United States is slipping from its position as the second largest gold-pro-ducing region in the world. Canada threatens to pass her, according to the Director of the United States Mint. For 40 years prior to 1006 'the United States held first place. But between 1906 and 1910 she took second place, due to gold development in the Transvaal, and Africa has led ever since. "Final figures for '1930," the Director says, "may place Canada second." CHILDREN LIKE WILD DEER. A family of seven children living withtheir parents in a small house on the shores of Loch Long, within 30 miles of Glasgow, have never been to school. They were discovered by the school attendance officer, who reported that the children were like wild deer and ran off and hid themselves when they saw him approach. To reach the house the official had to travel over rough country, cross streams, and clamber over rocks for four (miles. The Cowal (Argyllshire) School Management Committee considered the possibility of the children being taken to school by motor boat. "THE MAN WITHOUT A HOME." Dr. Pergler, the former Czecho-Slovakian Ambassador in Washington and Tokyo, finds himself in a curious position as the result of a decision of the Electoral Court, which has deprived him of his seat in the Czech Parliament on the ground that he has never acquired Czech nationality. Long before the war Dr. Pergler had settled in the United States and practised as a notary at Cedar Rapids, lowa. On the establishment of the Czecho-Slovakian State he was appointed Ambassador to Washington, and was later transferred to Tokyo. He was recalled from Japan and has since allied himself with the Fascist party in opposition to I)r. Benes, the Foreign Minister. He was elected to Parliament, but has now been unseated, despite his former activities as Ambassador. His party is making [political capital out of Dr. Pergler's predicament, and meetings are being held in which he is described as "the man without a home." END OF THREE-LEGGED WOLF. For nearly ten years a three-legged wolf had been harrying the countryside in Wood County, Wisconsin, U.S., taking toll of flocks and poultry. During all that time it eluded hunters pledged to lay it low, but it has now, at long last, met its Waterloo. The wolf is believed to have chewed off its right front leg when, in its inexperienced youth, it stepped into the trap. It never went near a trap again, no matter how carefully concealed or how skilfully baited. Hunters caught only distant glimpses of the three-legged beast flitting across open spaces. The trail was found again and again in the snow where sheep and poultry had been killed, and the same animal was blamed for raids where there was no snow to catch its trademark. Finally five hunters picked up the well-known spoor once more, and followed it for three days, being encouraged occasionally by catching sight of the wolf in the distance. Then the wary animal essayed to cross an open field, and a well-aimed long-range shot laid it low. The chase had covered about 100 miles. THE MINE WITH A CURSE. The discovery of a rich vein of platinum and of gold in the hill country west of Nanton, Alberta, has revived interest in the so-called "Lemon Mine," the exact location of which is a secret, though it is in the region of the new find. The mine is supposed to be the subject of a curse. It was discovered by two prospectors, one of -whom was named Lemon, some sixty years ago. They made a lucky strike, but quarrelled over the proceeds. Lemon is alleged to have killed his partner with an aJte and got away with nuggets which hj sold for several thousand pounds. He organised an expedition to the mine, but on the way lost his reason, and in his delirium revealed the story of the murder but not the location of the mine. He died soon after. Many have since tried to find the mine. One man named French is said to have succeeded, but the same night his cabin caught fire. He escaped in his shirt and died of exposure. Others who have set out on the same quest have met with mishaps or have mysteriously disappeared. The "hoodoo" of the mine has held good. BEATING THE STOWAWAY. "This man might be described as a super-stowaway," said Mr. F. Peregrine, prosecuting James' Stewart, aged 19, at the East Ham police court on .a charge of unlawfully concealing himself in a steamer.- The steamer Port Alma left London on January 9 for Australia, and when she got out to sea Stewart revealed himself. He came on deck when he was hungry. The captain of the vessel wirelessed the Dover police, and when the Port Alma arrived in Dover Roads the police appeared in a motor boat. Stewart could not be found. An hour or so was spent in searching for him, and it being concluded that he had dropped overboard the vessel proceeded. Later on, however, Stewart reappeared, and the captain, fearing that he might again perform a Maske-iync-Devant feat, put him under retraint. He then sent out another wireless message, and as a result met the same company's steamer Port Hunter at a fixed rendezvous. When the two vessels came together each sent out a lifeboat in midocean and Stewart was transferred to the lifeboat of the Port Hunter and taken back to London. Stewart, who said he wanted to get home to Australia, was sentenced to 28 days' hard labour.

A STING IN THE TAIL. A Belgian visiting the recent British Industries Fair at Olympia placed orders worth £400 for snakes and ladders and other small 'table and card games. He said that h& would have bought more, but £or the fact that some of the instructions for the games were printed only in English. SOMETHING NEW IN LAW SUITS. Because a Paris Mayor named Simon Juguin refused to allow the baby daughter of Friedman Layser to have a Biblical Christian name, the latter has brought a | suit for one franc damages and tha right to call his daughter Itiwka Judith. It appears that under the French law only certain Christian Biblical names are acceptable, but the plaintiff contends that Riwka is the name of the wife of a patriarch mentioned in the Bible, and therefore "one of the best Christian names under the law." COMPANY'S CLAIM FOR 3D. A claim by the London General Omnibus Company against a bus passenger for threepence was made recently. A barrister for the company said that the passenger, a Mr. Jackson, had tendered a pound note in payment for a threepenny fare. This was refused by the conductor, as he had not change. He refused to send the fare by post, and when proceedings were started, paid threepence into court, together with one shilling costs. He also set down a counterclaim for sevenpence, the amount of his expenses for postage in writing to the L.G.O.C. Counsel suggested that the matter should be dropped, and the counterclaim dismissed. The registrar agreed. CHAPLIN REFUSES TO SPEAK. Offers, far surpassing any ever made to an artist, to talk on the wireless were lately rejected by Charles Chaplin in New York. Advertising agencies, who "control the air" in the Unted States began a day of hectic competition by offering £10,000/ for a series of seven-minute talks. Chaplin refused. Whereupon another syndicate came forward and put the figure up to £25,000. Chaplin refused. These figures were completely eclipsed, however, by another firm, who offered £130,000 for a series of 26 short talks. Chaplin refused. So he remained true to his determination to be "a silent star." He explained that because he adhered to this policy of silence, as far as films were concerned, he would not talk on the wireless "for * million dollars." Mr. Chaplin has once, and once only, been heard over the wireless. That was four years ago. THE COUGH LOZENGE TRICK. A new ruse by confidence tricksters ia being applied in various towns of North Italy, and the Milan police are looking for "a man with a cough." A well-to-do stranger is selected as the victim, and a kindly Italian offers his services as guide, pointing out the places of interest. They lunch together and a stranger takes his seat at the same table, and joins in their conversation. Suddenly he has a violent coughing fit. which leaves him apparently prostrate. He says he will be all right if he can have some special pills. The Italian offers to get some from the chemist. He is given a 100 lire note. He is about to go off when he says, "But I might not come back with your money. You are a stranger to me." He offers to leave his wallet as security. When he returns he has brought the wrong pills. The man with the cough is worse than ever. The visitor offers to change the pills. He, too, is given a note and likewise leaves his wallet as security. When he returns with the pills the other two men and his wallet have disappeared.