RADIO-ACTIVE COBALT

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25394, 17 January 1948, Page 2

RADIO-ACTIVE COBALT

EXPERIMENTAL SAMPLE FOR N.Z. (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON. January 16. The most extensive and radio-active sample of cobalt ever to be sent to New Zealand is being prepared for shipment by the Atomic Energy Establishment at Harwell. This sample, which will be used for further research into the problem of bush sickness among stock on cobalt-deficient soils, is more radio-active than the total supplies of uranium at present in New Zealand.

To prevent radium emanations during transit by sea toward the end of next month, the sample will be enclosed in a special lead container.

Although the relationship between cobalt soil deficiency and the incidence of bush sickness in stock has been established for some time, certain factors affecting thedransmission of cobalt from the soil through pasture to the animal are still unknown. It is hoped that, through the use of radio-active cobalt to study these factors, treatment of bush sickness by counteracting soil deficiencies will become less expensive. The New Zealand High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan), accompanied by the New Zealand scientific liaison officer in London (Dr. E. Marsden), visited Harwell this week to inspect the sample. While at the station Mr Jordan met Messrs I. N. Walker, G. Page, G. J. Fergusson (Auckland), A. C. Dalton (Te Awamutu), N. B. Manssen (Christchurch), and Miss Marjorie Palmer Brown (Wanganui), all New Zealand scientists, who are working there on various aspects of atomic research. During a luncheon party the director of the establishment (Sir John Cockroft) referred to the valuable work done at Harwell by New Zealand scientists, particularly by Mr C. N. Watson-Munro, who is responsible for the construction of Britain’s first graphite low-energy experimental pile at the station. Mr Watson-Munro is now on his way back to New Zealand. SUBMARINE TEST IN ARCTIC LONDON, January 15. The British submarine Ambush, with a complement of six officers and 55 other ranks, will leave the Clyde soon on a secret course and will spend one month completely submerged in Arctic waters. The purpose of the voyage is to test the effects of long periods of submersion in water at sub-zero temperatures. The submarine will carry a doctor, who will observe the effects of the month’s submersion on the crew. The Ambush carries her normal crew and the only extra rations issued will be extra fats. The full company will have bacon and eggs for breakfast every morning. The Ambush is one of the Navy’s most modern submarines. She underwent trials only nine months ago. COASTAL SHIP OVERTURNS SEAMEN RESCUED FROM HULL BRISBANE, January 15. Seven seamen clung for four hours in heavy seas to the overturned hull of a 270-ton coastal ship. An engineer, who was asleep in his cabin, was drowned when the vessel overturned in Moreton Bay. The ship Grazier was loading shell m Moreton Bay when two big waves struck her port side. As she lay over the water swamped her holds and she overturned within a few seconds. Members of the crew dived into the sea and clung to the upturned hull, while the waves and spray swept oyer them, until daylight. The crew °f another ship which was loading shell in the bay then saw them and sent dinghies to the rescue.

FREIGHTER IN DISTRESS NEW YORK, January 15. The freighter Adrian Victory (7606 tons) has radioed the United States Coast Guard that she is in serious distress 100 miles south-east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The first message received this morning stated that the vessel’s entire cargo had shifted and that she was listing badly. She asked other ships in the vicinity to stand by. This afternoon a second message stated: “Condition most serious. List of 15 degrees. Rolling 35 degrees to starboard. Believe getting worse.” The Argentine vessel Australia and the steamer Trail Blazer have reported that they are speeding to the scene, and a Coast Guard patrol aeroplane has been sent out. The Adrian Victory left Port Tampa on January 9 for Jremen with supplies for the United States Army. She is owned, by the United States Maritime Commission. London Transport Wages.—Three weeks after its format 5 on the newlyconstituted London Transport Executive. which has replaced the London Passenger Transport Board, as the authority controlling all London passenger services, has received a demand for increased wages from 56,000 drivers, conductors, and maintenance staff. The increases requested average Ils weekly for workers in the central London area and £1 for workers in the outer London and country services.—London. January 15. Riot in Jamaica.— Scores were injured to-night in a riot between followers of the Labour leader, Mr W. A. Bustamente, and the People’s National Party. Fighting continued for five hours before the police could stop it. The rioters carried cutlasses, pickaxes, shovels, and iron bars. The reason for the riot is believed to be connected with the appearance in court to-day of Mr Bustamente on six charges of obstructing the police after incidents in the recent strike. Mr Bustamente is reported to have said: “I shall let go a force to protect myself. For months I have had to defend myself against the Communists with my fists and the butt of my gun.”—Kingston, January 15.