World News in Storv and Picture.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

World News in Storv and Picture.

"GRAND OLD MAN OF EUROPE." Tribute to Europe's "Grand Old Man" has recently been paid to the President of Czecho-Slovakia, Dr. Thomas Masaryk, who this month celebrates his 85th birthday. Dr. Masaryk was elected first President of the new republic on November 14, 1918, after many years of untiring efforte in the interests of his country. Born at Hrdonin, Southern Moravia, in March, 1850, Dr. Masaryk commenced life ! in a humble way as the son of a coachman. He was for some time a pupil teacher, but later became apprenticed as a blacksmith in Vienna. In time, however, he returned to his studies, qualifying for admission to Vienna University. He paid for his education out of his scant savings. It wae in 1900 that Dr. Masaryk's political career commenced in earnest when he founded the Czech People's party. From that time until the present day he has worked strenuously with the interests of the Czechs at heart. It was solely due to his untiring efforts that it became possible at last for Czecho-Slovakia to take its place among the nations. Tributes are warm and sincere to the "Grand Old Man of Europe" for his services to Czecho-Slovakia. i

ISLAND MYSTERY. During the recent hurricane which swept Earotonga, the storm-driven waves exposed the remains of an old sailing ship which had long been buried on the foreshore. An endeavour to learn the history of the vessel met with little success. The main piece of wreckage consieted of part of the keelson, sister keelsons, and floors. It obviously formed part of the midship section of a wooden ship of 1000 to 1200 tons. The timber is Douglas fir and American elm, which points to the fact that the ship in all probability was built on the Californian Coast, while methods employed for fastening, etc., fix the date of the building of the ship at 100 years ago. The vessel was probably of the old-fashioned whaler type—deep keel, flat floor, high-sided, with bluff bow and full stern. Part of the story of the wreckage can be plainly read. The timber is sound and dry—therefore it has not been lying in the water and was not exposed- to the sun. It has all been attacked, but not very deeply by the teredo, the wood-boring worm of the seas—indicating that it lay in the water for a time, probably a few months, before it reached the security of the dry coral beach. It seems likely that the ship was wrecked on the coral reef long ago. There it broke up and. this part of

the bottom lay on the reef or in the lagoon for a time, where it was attacked by the teredo. Then a storm lifted the wreckage and the seas carried it across the lagoon and left it high and dry above the high water mark. Here successive storms buried it with coral gravel and sand, and it lay and was forgotten until the great hurricane of 1935 brought it once more to light. EN ROUTE TO NEW ZEALAND. A loyal and enthusiastic send-off marked the departure from Southampton of Viscount Galway, Gover-nor-General-designate of New Zealand, and his wife and family. The Eangitata, which is the steamer bringing these new friends to New Zealand shores, is due to arrive at Wellington on April 11, when New Zealanders will have an opportunity of meeting for the first time the man whom the King has seen fit to send as his representative to this country. For the first time for many years Government House will ring with the sound of children's happy laughter, for Viscount Galway is to bring with him his four young children whose ages range from two to ten years. Two Governors-General have been in residence at Government House since 1924, when Lord Jellicoe and his family of boys and girls returned home to England.

SCOUT GREETINGS. From Calcutta 1 comes an account of the novel way in which 50,000 boy scouts in Punjab Province are to send greetings to the King on the occasion of his silver jubilee. The scouts will assemble at their respective headquarters, and 1000 picked youths from five provincial divisions will carry loyal greetings in mile relays to Lahore. The most arduous trek will be from Kylang, in Ladakh, where the runners will have to cross snow-covered Himalayan passes. Others will swim the mighty Indus and traverse the arid Sind Desert. At the end of their long and adventurous travels the messages are to be handed to the Governor Sir Herbert Emerson, chief provincial snout, who will send them to the King by air maiL LIGHTHOUSE IN THE SAHARA. For centuries sailors and seafaring men have watched for the guiding light of beacons along the coasts, but never before has such a thing been heard of as a lighthouse on land. This first land beacon has been erected in the Sahara Desert in order to guide airmen. It is operated at Bidon Cinq, in the middle of the waterless Tanestouft, known otherwise as "land of fear."