World News in Story and Picture

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 103, 2 May 1936, Page 3 (Supplement)

World News in Story and Picture

THE STEP PYRAMID OF SAKKARA. In the vicinity of the Step Pyramid of Sakkara a marvellous tomD, 5500 years old, has been discovered. A young English archaeologist working there has already explored 40 chambers that have been revealed. The new discovery will alter entirely the present ideas of the civilisation of that time. This tomb is 2000 years older than that of Tutankhamen, which was discovered in 1924 in the Valley of the Kings.

There are mummies in the tomb and numerous other article's which the ancient Egyptians interred for the comfort of tlieir dead. Enormous flint knives, still as sharp as razors, and lengths of rope are perfectly preserved. Ivory and bronze discs with hunting scenes inlaid are among the treasures. The store-

rooms contain scores of stone jar 9, once filled with meat and grain for the dead, also a complete set of dishes, plates and cups.

In the chapel are fluted columns that ante-date Doric columns by 1500 years. This discovery will alter theories concerning early Greek and Egyptian architecture.

The Step Pyramid of Sakkara, the earliest known to us, differs from other pyramids, in that it is built in six stages, decreasing upwards. Most pyramids have a square base, but ii has a rectangle 394 ft by 351 ft. It is the tomb of King Zeser of tho third dynasty, who ruled about 2980 B.C. NEW ANTARCTIC LAND. Reports from Mr. John Rymill's Graham Land expedition tell of the discovery of a large expanse of new land in Antarctica, as the result of two recent flights. The new land was first sighted on a southward flight on February 27, apparently connecting Alexander I. Land, previously thought to be an island, with South Graham Land. Another flight in March, when perfect weather conditions prevailed, revealed a chain of mountains some 200 miles long, encircling a bay whose surface was ice covered and studded with bergs. The mountains reach heights of 7000 ft and glaciers flow down their slopes to the bay. The members of the expedition are eagerly awaiting the time when they can sledge to the newly discovered peaks on the sea ice.

| THE ROYAL STAMP COLLECTION. King Edward has decided to take over Ms father's stamp collection, which is estimated to be worth £750,000. King George began the collection as a boy when he served as a midshipman on the Bacchante, at which time he was able to acquire many, colonial issues. So wide was his knowledge of the finer points of the subject, especially of the issues of Great Britain and the Empire, that his name Was, in 1921, placed at the head of the newly inaugurated roll of distinguished philatelists. The best specimens of the Royal collection arg in the Mauritius section, which includes both values of the famous "post office." The "one penny" orange-red is a beautiful copy and is still *oa the original envelope. In the saine section is an unused, block of five of the "post paid" 2d blue stamps, the first of which contains the error "penoe." The whole collection numbers between 500,000 and 750,000. They are kept in 600 00-page volumes. Many of the rarest have lately been filmed and will be exhibited at the International Philatelic Exhibition which President Roosevelt is to open in New York on March 9,

King Edward has not the wide knowledge his ' father had, taken only a casual interest in ■stamps till now. He will retain the curator, Sir Deny Bacon - and other officials. He succeeds his. father as patron of the Philatelic Society. 'PLANE FOR IRAQ'S ZING. King Ghazi of Iraq has ordered from, a British firm a luxurious twinengined biplane of the latest design for his personal use. It has, two 130 horse-power engines and can carry five persons on a non-stop flight, at a cruising speed of 125 miles per hour, over distances up to 650 miles. The aeroplane is furnished and equipped with unusual luxury. It is painted without in gold with green registration markings. Among its other fixtures is a two-gallon water tank in place of the standard tank.

IRON IN PAPUA. One of tlie richest goldfields of th<s world is the newly opened region in Papua and now valuable iroa deposits havo been discovered there. Unlike the goldfields, which are reached by aeroplane, the ironfields are situated in a reasonably accessible part. Mr. Westhaven, who_ is in Sydney arranging for mining leases, says there are 9,000,000 ton? of ore in sight.