LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 15 June 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The former Crown Prince of Germany has given to the Press a book on "War Guilt.” which will be published shortly. A preliminary announcement states that he made a close study of this question while still living at Wieringen, but only after his return to Germany was he able to procure all the documentary data necessary to a public pronouncement. The work is intended for "the broadest circles of the German nation, as well as of foreign countries,” and ‘'will without doubt, deliver a strong blow to the warguilt lie.” Inevitably the honk will also be an attempt at self-exculpation.

Dr. Viol, in a research report to the American Chemical Society, describes "radon.” a substance which, he states, is 180.000 times more active than radium, and costs more than £1,000,000 an ounce to produce, hut which, owing to its increased activity, is cheaper in use than radium.

To test the theory that- a person in normal pnysienl condition falling from a great height loses consciousness in the course of his descent two American military aviators plunged head-first front an aeroplane at art altitude of 3000 feet. They did not pull the cords which opened their parachutes until they had dropped 1000 feet or more. Both reported that at no time, did they feel their senses leaving them. They are convinced that they would have retained full possession of them until they struck tho ground had they continued* to fall so far.

Largely as a result of the operation of the new restrictive immigration law of tho United States, emigration from Ttalv to foreign countries fell off last year to 32 per cent, below that of the preceding year. Italian emigration reached a grand total during the year of 401,968 persons. 68,000 of these going to Argentina, 36,000 to the United States, 10,000 to Brazil, 5000 to Australia and 4000 to Canada.

Football is increasing in popularity day by day in Spain. Time, land, and money are being lavished on the game in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and other large towns, and even the small towns are not far behind in their enthusiasm. This fact, in conjunction with the lack of great bullfighters, is a serious menace to hullfighting, and in the opinion of many good judges the flourishing days of the "national sport” will soon bo over.

A novelty which combines beauty with originality has appeared in London ballrooms. i’his is the phosphorescent fan. It owes its inception largely to the fact that the lighting of the most famous ballrooms to-day frequently verges on twilight haziness, allowing fans to glow with a wonderful iridescence. The fans are made of four or five large ostrich feathers, and in full light are of varying colours. As soon as the light dies away, or even changes to softer shades, the fans lose their real colour and give out a silvery radiance which adds to the beauty of gowns and wearers.

Winchester College has acquired Broadhalfpenny Down, Hambledon, Hampshire, where cricket, as a public, spectacle, was born in the 18th century. A match will be played there on July 11 between a Winchester College team and a Hambledon side. The first fully recorded game on Broadhalfpenny Down took place in 1773, when the Old Hambledon Club played England. Much cricket history was made on the ground.

The costliest single map in the world is in the Louvre, in Paris. It is a map of France. The groundwork is of polished jasper: all the principal towns are represented by precious stories, and their names are inscribed in gold. The rivers are strips of polished platinum, and the 87 departments are arranged in a wonderful scheme of blazing gems. The inap was made in Russia, and was a gift to France presented by the Czar at the time of the Franci-llussian Alliance. Though it is only one square metre in size its value is estimated at £250.000.

Natives of the West Indies tell travellers of oysters which can be purchased on branches so many to the branch. Most of the islands in the south are fringed with mangrove trees. Some of them grow in the salt water, and their branches droop until a part of them is submerged. Oysters will cling to any surface in the water to which they can fasten themselves, and as there are few shelve or stones along the shores they attach thmselves to the branches. When the natives go oyster-gathering they lean over the side of the boat, find a branch to which oysters are clinging and cut it off.

After a winter spent in the warmth of the kitchen the parrot had been restored to the bosom of his family in the liningroom. He showed only a scant interest in the first meal he was called upon to witness, until the bell was rung for the second course, and then his eye lightened intelligently, “Aw,” lie croaked balefully, “let ’em ring again!” Watch for it ! Trnttirn's big Snip Circular Tuesday’s Mail.* 30/- buys a man’s warm smart tweed overcoat to morrow. 25/- for boys (all sizes).—The .Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co. Ltd.* Thursday, at McKay’s! Great Annual Stocktaking Sale and Wembley Clean-up starts at. 9 a.m. Thursday. Wait for it.* Blanket Scatter to-morrow ! All wool N.Z. blankets—white or grey—single bed 22/6 pair. Double bed 35/- pair.— The Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co., Ltd.* Special Purchase of high grade Knitted Costumes, to clear at two prices, 49s 6d and 59s 6d. Usually worth from 79s 6d to £5 ss.—McGruer’s, Bridge-street-.*

In the days of Auld Lat:g Syne a N.Z. grown tobacco made its appearance on the market but failed to get u hold on the smoking public. The leaf was alright, hut there was, something deficient in the curing ,and the industry languished arid fizzled out. A much more ievent attempt- to solve the problem resulted in the production of the National Tobacco Co’s brands, now firmly established in the favour of the smokers. The secret of this success is said to be due to the new toasting process which has resulted in a most remarkable improvement in the smoking quality. The diffei. cnee between the toasted and the nontoasted product is as wide as a cooked potato differs in taste from a raw potato. Any smoker can easily convince himself by trying just a few pipes of any of the following brands : Riverhead Gold, very mild ; Toasted Navy Cut (Bulldog), of medium strength, and Cut Plug No. 10 for those who prefer a full body.*

Are British juries getting sentimental? The. verdict recently given in at. least two law suits suggest tut effort on the part of the twelve good men and true to combine substantial justice with a well-meaning effort to make tilings easy for the “lady in the ease.’ An American legal expert has estimated that in the United States a woman’s chances of securing a favourable verdict are, gvien liie same evidence, from 50 to 300 per cent, better than a man’s, according to the natures of the case and the woman’s appearance and behaviour in the box. In France the odds in her favour would have to be rated higher still.

A new enterprise in dishonesty has re ccntly been inaugurated in Christchurch. On a recent afternoon a man called at a house in Sprevdon, professing to sell electi'ic light bulbs. The girl who answered the door went inside to inquire if any bulbs were wanted, but returned with a. negative reply. The man left, and shortly afterwards it was discovered that some of the bulbs irn the house near thc> door had likewise departed, having been lifted from their sockets while the girl was making the inquiry. The irritation of the householder over losing his lamps is tempered by the reflection that at all events he had not bought, them back from the thief, which would probably have happened had a purchase been effected. The idea of going round selling a man his own property stamps the operator as one possessing high professional ability.

A novel, and at the same time practical, met hod of teaching domestic science to Melbourne schoolgirls is referred to in a report presented to the Auckland Education Board by Mrs N. E. Fcrner, who recently made an extensive tour abroad to study education methods. The girls keep house in a home set apart for the purpose and cook dinners for people, who pay for thorn. All the work—the buying, cooking, serving, and waiting—is done by the pupils.' An excellent three-course meal is provided at the> cost of one shilling, Without counting interest on the buildings and the salaries (it teachers, the school is self-supporting.

Dr. Muir, in an article in the Indian Medical Gazette, in which he reviews the results obtained at the outdispensarv at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine states that it is “a criminal blunder to assert that leprosy is not amenable to treatment.” "All interested in the preesnt encouraging aspect. of tlie work among lepersi in Eastern lands should hear Mr W. H. P. Anderson, of London, in the School of Music on Wednesday'.

The Marlborough representative football team returned to Blenheim yesterday afternoon. Ojq their arrival in Nelson on Saturday morning they were metand welcomed by the Mayor and the secretary (Mr F. Hare) of the Nelson Rugby Union. Air Dickson, manager of the visitors, acknowledged the welcome.

“It is quite untrue that Canterbury lamb is losing its name on the Home markets,’’ declared Mr D. Jones, chairman of the .Meat Producers Board, at the conference on Thursday afternoon of the North Canterbury district of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. He admitted that North, Island lambs had been bringing better prices. But lastseason the Canterbury lambs had been unusually heavy, as growers concentrated or; fattening them, reports the Christchurch Sun. The English market preferred lighter lambs, and the North Island meat fulfilled this condition. Mr F. A. Wagner said that the factories gave no inducement to grow prime in mbs. There should be a better price for super-quality animals. He found that the lambs that paid him best were Border Leicesters from 40 to 451 b. But it really did not pay producers to market super-quality lambs. There was no extra compensation.

Producers of Roquefort, one bf the most delicious of French cheeses, have long complained of the numerous imitations on the market. Members of the Senate have drafted a bill prohibiting the sale as Roquefort of such imitations. The green streaks characteristic of this cheese are produced by adding a small quantity of mouldy bread to the prepared solution and exposing the whole to the cold, dry air. This is done by placing it in natural grottos, which are to he found in abundance at Roquefort. The cheese is not considered fit for consumption until it has been from five to six days in the grottos. There was only a short- list at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when several civil cases were dealt with. Judgment for the full amounts, with costs, was given in the following undefended cases: E. Buxton and Vo. v. R. Taylor, claim £5/19/4, costs £l/12/6; W. G. Gibbs v. G. A. Hall £7/15/6, costs £l/10/6; same v. R. Kerr, £l/7/6. costs £l/2/6. Other cases called on were either -adjourned, conferred or struck out.

Waterworks which will he the largest in the world are being built 16 miles from London. The reservoir covers 725 acres, and has a capacity of 30,133,928 tons, or 6.750,000,006 gallons, drawn from the Thames. Three meters with throats sft wide pass in 100 million gallons of water daily from the great intake channel. Roller sluices 6ft. by sft send tlie water into a draw-off towei, standing in the reservoir, whence, finally, it is snicked down the steel throats, 6ft wide, of three pipes, and so over the embankment into the main, for the use of London’s millions.

A general meeting of the Nelson Society of Professional Musicians is called for Wednesday evening next at 8 o'clock, when a full attendance is required.

Elaborate plans are under way for the Diamond Jubilee Festival of San Francisco, to he held on September 5 to 12, celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of California’s admission to the Union as a State. Representatives from everv foreign country in the world have been invited. Naval vessels of foreign countries have been asked to participate. The tentative programme includes beautiful migrants, depicting early Californian history. electrical parades, army and navyparades, and sports of every character. Overcoat Sale ! To-morrow ! ! Warm dark tweed overcoats—Men’s 30/- each. Boys’, (till sizes) 25/-.—The Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co. LtcL* Sale starts Wednesday.—Trathen’s.* 40 Smart Model Hats, to clear at 29s 6d each.— McQruer’s.* Noted for genuine sales. Our Wembley “Clean Up” will eclipse them all. Thursday at 9 a.m. at McKay’s.* Trathen’s Sale on Wednesday.* Tuesday’s Quilt Snip ! Double bed pure down quilt; floral sateen coverings; double panels, 37/6 each.—The Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co. Ltd.* Wait till Thursday at 9 a.m. for Bargains better than ever. We must clear all Winter Goods. —McKay’s.* To-morrow’s Blanket Bargains 1 All wool N.Z. Blanket? —white or greyr—single bed 22/6 pair. Double bed 35/pair.—The Auckland Clothing and Drapery- Co., Ltd.*

Sergeant Alan M. Nickols, late- of the 2nd Durham Light Infantry, was wounded in many places during the war, losing his sigh* and both his hands in a bomb explosion. The training he lias received at St.. Dunslan’s institution for blinded soldiers enables him to use with his artificial hands a typewriter, a pair of oars, and to cycle on a tandem machine, and even to win dancing competitions. A man with a “sixth sense,” which permits him to know the contents of' letters he has never seen, is puzzling French medical men and the police. Ho is Otto Kahn, a German, aged 50. He has completely mystified bv his telepathic powers members of the French Academy, leading doctors, and students of metaphysics. He met 12 of these people at ihe house of a leading politician. The guests were invited to retire to another room. Each wrote a letter, which the writer folded eight times and held in his right- hand. They returned to the presence of the German, who recited in turn the contents of the letters.

Mr Rudyard Kipling, in reply to the. question, “When you were young what did you wish to be?” addressed to him recently, replied, “A sailor or an explorer. In my hooks I have often expressed regret at having been neither the one nor the other.” M. Anatole France, not. long before he died, made a similar statement. “I always wanted,” he said, “to be a bookseller or an antiquary—perhaps bath.” tt* '■— *(■-

Reserved judgment was given by Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court today in the ease F. Gibbons (Mr W. Rout) v. Nelson CityCouncil (Air Cheek), an appeal from a drainage order made by the defendants. The Magistrate held that the watercourse was a natural one and dismissed the appeal, with £2/2/- costs.

Signor Mussolini, in a telegram addressed to the mayor of Tolmczzo, a small town in Venetia, who proposed tlie erection of a wall commemorative tablet in a school where Mussolini taught 18 years ago, said, “I read in the papers that you propose to place a tablet in Tolmczzo in memory of my sojourn there 18 years ago. Please dedicate the money collected to some scholastic charity. I do not wish to be transformed into a tiling of marble before my time. Try again in 1950.” After hearing a lad of sixteen give his evidence against another, youth in a carnal knowledge case at the Blenheim Supreme Court His Honour Mr Justice A 1 pet'.- 1 asked witness where he was educated, and was evidently a little surprised when the youth replied that he was at Nelson College for 2£ years.

'Weil,” said Ilis Honour, “did you not learn at Nelson College to address gentlemen such as the Crown Prosecutor and counsel for the defence as ‘sir’?” “Yes, your Honour.” “Then you have evidently forgotten a very valuable lesson, for I never once heard you say 'sir’ during the course of your evidence. Then, again, did you ever learn about boys ‘peaching’ on each other?” “I don’t understand your Honour." “Perhaps the expression has changed nowadays. When I was at school we used to call it ‘peaching,’ but what I mean is telling tales on one another. That was not appioved at Nelson College, was it?” “No, sir.” His Honour revelled to the subject later when addressing the jury. He said a very fine tiling was the old esprit dp corps which would make a fine manly boy stand up and be flogged before he would “split.” "Perhaps,” added His Honour, regretfully, “they are not so long at school nowadays ,and there is not sufficient time foi‘ the development of this fine spirit.”

This week a consignment of 48,000 feet, or nearly three miles, of selected cinema film went forward to the American Fleet at Honolulu for distribution amongst the ships that are coming to New Zealand in August. The films, which are thoroughly descriptive of the Dominion, are put up in 2000-feet spools titled, and ready for screening, and should he the means of giving the crews of the warships a good idea in advance of the kind ot country they are coming to, as well as being a good advertising medium. It is known that there ate some 40 cinema machines in the fact. By the same mail were posted samples of New Zealand publicity literature, ;n d a large number of street maps *f Am inland and Wellington, for inclusion m any fleet pamphlets that may be '.‘•sued on board. In order that it may wot be submerged by the large quantity of A us. tralian pamphlets, etc., that arc beng placed on the ships at Honolulu, it is the intention to have the hulk of the New Zealand data delivered to the Meet at the Australian ports immediatc.y prior to its departure for New Zealand. ;