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Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 4, 5 July 1922, Page 6

Special mention was made by the lecturers at the Alpine dub last evening to the many hardships which climbers ■were called, upon to face in following their sport in the Southern Alps. Several cases were instanced to show the great powers of endurance of the hardy men who undertake these excursions, cases in which climbers were often without food for many hours, and in addition had to clamber over rough, snow-clad slopes often almost perpendicular. The question of supplies of food was one of the greatest problems owing to the distance from townships, a difficulty frequently increased by the length of their stay in the ranges. Mr. Malcolm Boss stated that on one occasion he lost his pack at the top of Mount Cook, and was several hours in getting back to a hut on the slopes. When he got there he could find no baking powder, "but," said the lecturer. "I overcame tlie difficulty by using Eno's fruit salts. I give this as a tip to the ladies present."

No news was received during the week-end from the scow Haere, which was driven ashore seven miles southwest of Cape Maria van Diemen on 24th June (states the New Zealand Herald). The locality where she is ashore is very isolated and a long way from telephonic communication. It is expected that salvage work will be! considerably delayed by ; the stormy weather, as conditions have been very severe on the West Coast during the past few days. ■ When the Kaitangata, which arrived at Auckland from Westport on Sunday, passed Cape Maria at midday on Saturday, the wind was blowing hard from the westward and right into where the Haere is lying. There was a heavy sea off shore, but a heavy break was not noticeable on the beaches. ■ : .

A picture of the United States Capitol has been engraved upon the head of a pin. It can only be seen through a microscope. It was stipplod out with fine diamond points and engraved under a powerful glass, a. process so trying- to the enpraver's eyes that he could only work at ifc for short periods with rests between. Above the picture has beon inscribed "United States Capitol." and underneath "Washington,; 1922." The pin upon which the engraving has been Hone has a gold head, and it took three days to get the surface finc-ly polished. The Governments of Canada and the United. States hava. geographic boards who aro responsible for the auth-entic spellings of place-names. . '• The finest Kashmir shawls cost as rnueb. as £300 when bought in th»t country . ■.