RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 10

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights on Current

Events

(By

Kickshaws.)

If there are many more reports about hatches on the East Coast, West Coast poultry folk will be getting jealous.

The function of the League, it is de clared, must accord with its powers. Events of the last few months would seem to confirm this.

M. Blum declares that his policy will accelerate the currency rhythm. At the moment, though, the dance has not got beyond a few striking steps. * * *

It is becoming more and more noticeable that Presidents of the United States of America, and would-lie presidents, show a nicety in the selection of place names, from which to make speeches, that is rarely seen in other countries. When tbe Prime Minister of England, or any other great man o: that country, makes a speech he doe: it in London. Possibly presidents oi the United States, and the like, de make speeches in Washington. The name of the place is, however, so tone less that nobody bothers to report it When a President wants to make splash and drop a tiny brick he goe.to Little Rock to do so. When h< knows he will get into hot water he goes to Hot Springs to do so. When h.- feels tired he astounds people bj a return to Energy. When he feel", particularly chivalrous, off he can go and make a speech at Plain Dealing. When, however, he feels subtle, wha< better place than Smoky Ordinary for a speech. Those anxious to take ovei his job have little choice but to mak' their headquarters at Keen, if not, in deed, at one of the two places named Keener.

One by one the old ships go, am the announcement that the lonic is to be sold marks a step in her caree which brings the time measurably nearer when people will be shavingwith her hull. That fate awaits near ly every steel ship afloat. Change hands they do, but in the end they are scrapped, tbe steel converted into plates and razor blades, and the disintegrated vessel becomes reincarnated. The vessel is cut up like cheese, am' there is a brisk demand for her “innards.” Few people who have visited the Oval, London, appreciated the fac. that they were sitting on the decks of British battleships. Fewer people appreciate just what scrapping a vessel means. For example, scrapping the funnels of a large liner such as tb<Majestic involves the removal of n<> less than six tons of old paint. Alon; the Netley shore, in the outer reache.of Southampton Water, one can usu ally see a line of vessels waiting a: their last anchorage before proceed ing to their reincarnation. Far from being of no value at tbe end of the.; lives, old vessels are worth as much as 50/- a ton and provide work for many people.

One may well ask what becomes of the ships that have passed their prime, but in which there is still a kick left. Japan and certain owners in Chinese ports have been ready buyers of these old stalwarts. Many New Zealand vessels have been on “runs” in Ear Eastern waters after they have mad< their last trip to this Dominion. In other markets nearer home some 50< ships change hands in a year for mother reason than that they have beet replaced with more modern vessels. Three White Star liners—Athenie. Medic and Suevic—changed hands in this way. Having been bought by Nor wegian whaling companies, they became factory ships. At least three Nev.Zealand liners are now under the German flag. When last heard of the., were transporting American motorcars across the Atlantic. At one Him any old ship found a ready markei among Greek and Italian buyers. The Greeks, in fact, have always had ; greater hand in shipping than is everealised. One Greek, in fact, made ai enormous fortune in rhe Great Wai by obtaining a corner in shippingcharters on the eve of hostilities.

Existing Reserve Bank notes, it is declared, adequately meet the needs oi the public. Anybody anxious to crinkle a bank note of greater denomination than £5O will, therefore, have to indulge himself with Bank of England notes. Most of us are content with £5 notes, provided there are enough. Few of u§ have ever handled a £5O note. The Bank of England can supply us with a £lOOO note if we desire. These notes can be turned out at the rate of £30.000,000 a day. At that rate, one could be in every home in next to no time. There Is, of course no limit to the value that a note car. represent The Bank of England, however. has never found excuse to print a note worth more than £1,000,000. Uni; four of these were ever printed. Two of them were once in the possession ot Rothschild. The only notes approaching these in value were two for £lOO,000. Notes of £50.000 were also available. Two of these notes came into the possession of a butcher, who used always to sleep with oue under his pillow. The other lie used to carry in his pocket. For many years these twe notes remained in “circulation” in this maimer. *

Ba.uk notes, as a matter of fact, are not an innovation. They were in use 4500 years ago in China. They have been In use tn New Zealand ever since New Zealand was New Zealand, or slightly before that. A couple of years ago the New Zealand branch of the Union Bank ot Australia cashed one of their notes dated 1840. This note, value £l, came back home to roost, from the United States of America. It was originally issued at Britannia, I’ito-one, before Wellington existed at all. The note, number 198 G, was printed in jot black ink. and was in good condition The life of the aver age note these days is not more than IS months. Some notes do not last that long. In the ease of Bank of England ‘■fivers,” their life may be five minutes or five years. The moment they are redeemed by the Bank of England they arc put aside to be destroyed. Possibly, Reserve Bank note number 1 is destined to reach an age of mature security. Suitably mounted and framed, it was presented to the Minister of Finance of the time, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. It was added to the decorations of Ms office wails.

"It will lie appreciated if you will tell me in what parts of the Dominion opal is found." says “1V.H.,” ‘‘and whether it is mined in any appreciable quantities." [Opals are frequently found in New Zealand, but not as valuable gems, or commercially. An opal is no more '.ban a combination of qmirtz and water. There are opals and opals. It Is the former that are mostly found in New Zealand. Probably, the Waihi area is the best place to find them.]