General News

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26078, 3 April 1950, Page 6

General News

Fathers and Sons The opposing captains in a cricket match on Saturday between the Christ’s College first eleven and a team of former pupils of the college were S. G. Lester, a former Canterbury representative player, and j. G. Lester. Spectators were delighted to see the college captain put himself on to bowl when his father came in tb bat: the parent triumphed, hitting several fours off his son’s bowling. The father had an even more pronounced success in a match between the college /fourth eleven and another team of old boys. In the closing stages of the game D. Mcß. Stewart, for the old boys, achieved the hattrick. His third victim was D. Stewart, his sop. Mr Leon Blum’s Small Estate Mr Leon Blum, the veteran French Socialist leader, died almost penniless. The State will pay the cost of the funeral. Although he was the son of a prosperous textile manufacturuer and could have made a fortune from his political and other' writings. Mr Blum’s only income lately was a pension of between £4l and £5l a month as a retired member of Parliament. —Paris, April 2.

14,000 Apply for War Medals More than 14,000 applications for war service medals have been received by the records sections of the three armed services headquarters in Wellington. Of this total, the Army has received 12,000 applications, the Air Force 1500. and the Navy 800. Since headquarters began receiving applications just over a week ago, Army men have been lodging their applications at the rate of upwards of 1000 a day. Navy men. who make thejr applications for their share of prize money at the same time, are sending in their completed forms at the rate of 100 a day, and Air Force applications number abofft 50 a day.

“458 years Before Gutenberg” The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says that Russia to-day added printing to its list of “firsts.” The Moscow journal, “Literary Gazette.” said that research showed that Ivan Smera. a Russian doctor, invented printing in the year 9PQ. Although Johann Gutenberg was generally credited with this invention, Gutenberg did not make his first machine until 1448.—London, April 2. Ngaurufioe Active

A pilot flying from Rotorua to Wellington yesterday reported signs of volcanic activity from Mount Ngauruhoe. He said the mountain was shooting up “puffs of smoke” at intervals of a few seconds. These attained a fair height and were visible. from a good distance.—(P.A.) Actor’s Aversion

If Robert Morley, distinguished actor and playwright, led a world crusade, it would probably be a campaign to abojish the public address system. This combination of microphone arid loud speaker was an aversion, he told the Auckland Rotary Club recently. “The public address system is one of the real horrors of the world to-day, and nothing is more awful than its hold upon you,” Mr Morley said. “Travel by sea, and you find the whole ship has to be alerted far one radiogram to be delivered or for the doctor to check on a vaccination. Go by air. and the effects are even more ludicrous. All over the world it goes on—a system that never works and that either presents announcers who can’t be understood or 8.8. C. voices that like themselves so much that they must repeat the message three or four times.” Hotels played the same trick. The entire hotel must be informed that Mr Brown or Mrs Smith was required at the desk. It was impertinence. He had always made a point of never answering a loud-speaker call. Fisjiing Party

Yesteraav afternoon the GovernorGeneral (Sir Bernard Freyberg) and Lady Freyberg returned to Taupo frofn Waihaha in the western bay of Lake Taupo, where they had spent a week’s fiishing holiday as guests of Mr S. H. Richwaite. Altogether 102 fish averaging five pounds were taken by the Vice-Regal party. Several seven-pounders were included. His Excellency took the largest one, of 7£lb. A large box of fresh fish was sent to the Rotorua Hospital. The party left yesterday for the Chateau Tongariro. and it will leave for Wellington to-day.—(P.A.) Aged Couple Elope Two days ago the Vancouver police were asked to search for 90-year-old Mrs Elizabeth Eastman. They found her to-day on a honeymoon with an 86-year-old bridegroom with whom she hdd eloped.—Vancouver, April 1. Frigates’ Mediterranean Service For the first time in the history of the New Zealand Navy, two of its ships are about to serve on an overseas station. They are the frigates Taupo and Hawea, which will leave the Devonport Naval Base to-day on temporary transfer to the Mediterranean station. They will be based with the Mediterranean Fleet at Malta. Their place on the New Zealand Station will be taken by two Bay class frigates from the Mediterranean Fleet, the Austell Bay and the Veryan Bay.— (P.A.) Cobalt Treatment for Cancer

Cobalt has replaced radium in the treatment of cancer, according to Dr. Warren Shields, director of the United States Atomic Energy Commission’s Biology Medicine Division. Dr. Shields said ‘to-day that cobalt, which was a plentiful meta], was just as effective as radium for treating cancer and other diseases and was a thousand tifnes cheaper.—New York, April 1. Suva Welcomes Fijian Athletes

The band of the Fiji Military Forces, all Fijjans except the bandmaster, marched through Suva recently at the head of a decorated lorry in which sat the Fijian athletes who had returned from the Empire Games. The athletes a very warm welcome from all sections of the community. Fijians laughed and shouted, Europeans on the fontpaths clapped enthusiastically, and Fijian boys swarmed around the lorry. At Albert Park a welcome was tendered by the officials of the Fiji Athletic Association, and in the afternoon the athletes were welcomed by p big gathering at the hpfne of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, where traditional presentations of food were made by the Fijian people of Suva. An inscribed tabua (whale’s tooth) was presented to the manager erf the team. Mr H. M- McMilkn. Native dances were also given by girls from the outlying Lauan Islands. The performances of the Fijians during the Empire Games and after have been .followed with great interest by the Fijian people, and it is expected that a considerable interest in athletics will result. Already in many village schools coconuts, as a substitute for tfie shot, have found another use by the many admiring disciples ’of Matuika Tuicakau.— (F.p.0.C.) New Treatment for Invalids

A type of treatment that does away with the wheelchair and bed for the aged is among tfle schemes in England which impressed Miss M. T. Lambic most on her recent visit to London. Miss Lapibie, formerly the Director of Nursing in New Zealand, returned to Wellington on Friday. “In the past everyone has carefully kept very elderly people in bed. We have not spent enough time getting them on their feet.” she said, praising a London scheme by which the elderlv are given new interests. She thought New Zealand had much to learn from it. Inspired by Lord Alumree, now a part-time physician attached to University College Hospital, the plan was operating at the St. Paperas Hospital. In four special wards, elderly people were being reeducated—given interests that would eventually enable them to get out of bed and do things for themselves. “I §aw women in wfieejchairs doing exercises.” said Miss Lambie. “I saw a woman who had been 24) years in bed and another who had spent 15 year? there, potfi walking. They were ready to"go to their homes with alertness and interest.”