General News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 28 June 1943, Page 4

General News

Choked by Fish A Maltese swimming in the Russell river, near Cairns, Australia, recently, was choked by a small fish which entered his throat and became stuck. Friends with whom the man was swimming found him in distress, but could not ascertain the cause till the tail of the fish was noticed in the back of his throat. Attempts to remove the fish and to pass a tube through failed, and when doctor arrived he said the man was beyond aid. Malaria Infection “A degree of immunity, from malaria develops in adult life amongst tropical and sub-tropical native raves; in such cases the malarial parasites are present in the blood, but they are comparatively few,” said Dr. D. Miller, of the Cawthron Institute, in the course of a lecture to the Nelson Philosophical Society on mosquitoes and malaria. “It is in infancy that the disease is most prevalent; during the first two years of lift., there is acute infection and a high death rate, but these featutes lessen up to ten years, when they tend, to dis*. appear at adolescence. However, if an individual has been attacked by only one type of malaria his immunity does nr t protect him from infestation by another type. The disease has a marked influence on the birth rate, even reducing it to zero at times in some localities.”

Grey Harbour Slipway The Greymouth Harbour Board has commenced work on the construction of a slipway at the end of the lagoon wharf, permission for the job having' been obtained from the Marine Department. The slipway, which is estimated to cost £025, is expected to be completed in two months. The board's tug will in future be overhauled at Greymouth, the slipway obviating the necessity for taking the ship away from the West Coast. The Boy and ll** School "I think there are many people too ready to judge the present-day boy by the standards which they imagine they attained gt the same ago,” remarked Mr E. N. Hogben (headmaster of Wellington College), at the annual meeting of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association. It was very easy to blame the young generation, but it had to be realised that the boys of the present day had a very difficult time to face. Despite what might appear at times to be signs to the contrary, the present-day boy was verj’ proud of his school. Mosquitoes in Springs The larvae of New Zealand’s most common mosquito have recently been found breeding in two types of thermal springs at Rotorua. This most unusual breeding ground was discovered by Lieutenant D. H. Graham, formerly research officer to the Auckland Mosquito Control Committee. The species is in the larval stage only, and apparently in a “carry-over” or hibernating stage, until warmer weather, before emerging as adults. The temperature of the springs is 79 degrees F. Conduct of Lottery Unaware that permission was required from the Minister of Internal Affairs, a married woman organised a raffle for a Ch istmas hamper for a working men’s club. On Friday she was fined £2, with 10s costs, in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, on a charge of commencing a lottery by w’hlch prizes were drawn for by mode of chance. Arising out of the same set of circumstances, Universal Printing r - icts, Ltd., were fined the minimum penalty, £5, with 10s costs, for printing tickets without placing their name thereon, as required by the Statute. Some Dubious Wines Although the alcoholic strength of beer has been appreciably reduced “serious difficulties continue to be experienced in meeting all demands.” said Mr David W. Madden, chairman of New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., when addressing the shareholders at their annual meeting last week. He took the opportunity of stating that the company had conformed strictly to the Government’s policy of reducing the .1coholic strength of beer. The company’s brewery staff was to be congratulated on the manner in which they had met the manufacturing problems involved. “It is significant,” added Mr Madden, “that there has been a noticeable increase in the demand for beverages, made from a variety of materials, and sold the name of wine. 'Hiese beverages are manufactured often under unwholesome and unhygienic conditions and are of unrestricted potency.” Hair-Do’s for Nurse* .Whether the Wellington Hospital Board should find space in the hospital buildings, after the 210-bed block is built, for a ladies’ hairdressing saloon was discussed by members again last week (reports “The Post"). Most of the men were in favour of, and most of the women members were against, the idea. Mrs Knox Gilmer said she had thought that the women members would be just a bit more progressive. -She had brought the matter up because she saw the necessity of having a satisfied staff. There were 600 girls on the staff, working long and late hours, and they simply could not get to hairdfessers in town. The Ministry of Health, England, advocated the facilities in hospitals and institutions for health reasons. The New Zealand Army provided them for their girls; it was a fashion, and the girls had a right to be in the fashion. Mrs Gilmer remarked that she did not notice too many board members with beards down on their chests; evidently they had access to the barber. Miss Kane, Miss Cable, and Mrs Blake thought a ladies’ saloon in a hospital quite unnecessary. Florence Nightingale, said Miss Cable, did not worry about her hair. Mr F. W. Furkert remarked that the board’s job was to make sick people well, not to provide space for barbers’ shops, but Mr H. F. Toogood and Mr J. Purvis were all for youth and beauty and crowning glory, for the good of the nurses and the patients as well. Mrs Gilmer won on the voices and the Medical Superintendent is to see if there can be space where hair-do’s can be done. Liquor on Train . Charged with drinking intoxicating liquor on a train between Otaki and Wellington, a man was fined £2, with 16s costs, by Mr Stout, S.M., i n the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, last week. Senior-Sergeant Paine said defendant had been to a bowling tournament at Otaki and was seen drinking a glass of ale on the train. Mosquitoes Breed in Water Only “The adult mosquito is not long lived; the duration of life is abQut one month if the insect is lucky enough to escape death from some untimely cause,” said Dr D. Miller, of the Cawthron Institute during a recent lecture on mosquitoes and malaria. “In the case of those species that hibernate as adults, however, the duration of life is prolonged at that season. Mosquitoes are not great fliers, being seldom found more than approximately three miles from their breeding ground. Some species require a meal of blood for the maturation of the ovaries; in such cases the blood is digested in from two to five days when the eggs are laid, after which the insect seeks another meal. The eggs are laid in water, slow-flow-ing or still, stagnant, fresh, brakish, or salt, according to the species. No mosquito can breed elsewhere than in water and the time taken for development from egg to adult varies according to temperature; it may be completed in from 15 to 21 days."

There are times in most people's lives when they ask themselves the age-old question: "Is life worth living?” And if you have never felt like that you should shake hands with yourself, ior you are very lucky. Low spirits sometimes arise from "liver,” but more often, perhaps, from worry. In the latter case tobacco smoke has often been known to exorcise the Demon. Seek the seclusion of your "den,” make yourself comfortable, loud the old briar with Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), light up. and as you sit there at your ease watching the blue smoke wreaths float upwards they will carry your carq.> with them—Richard will be himself again? There’s something so comforting in this beautiful toasted tobacco! Cut Plug No.. 10 is the old smokers’ favourite, but if you prefer a medium blend try Cavendish or Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog) If you are a cigarette smoker, "roll your own” with Riverhead Gold or Desert Gold. All these brands are equally efficacious as worrydisp«Jlers. and being toasted they are safe, no matter how freely you may indulge. 1 *