MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 49

MISCELLANEOUS.

THE CANCER MICROBE, lb lias been announced too soon that Dr Bra, a disciple of Pasteur, has discovered a cure for cancer. “He claims nothing of the kind,” says the Paris correspondent of the “Daily News,” “but he sets up to have ascertained the cause of the disease. In his opinion the parent of cancer is a low and microscopic.fungus, the ascorn.',ceN us. It is cylindrical, and the tv.ehemillionth of a millimetre in diameter. It bursts like a puff-ball, scattering capsules that have a spiral motion, and that fix themselves round it. They in turn proliferate, and so on. Dr Bra has cultivated this algue in sterilised milk, slightly sugared. He found the growths resulting from inoculation identical with cancer, but so far he has not discovered that inoculation with tamed virus secures immunity. The ascomycetus appears as dust to the naked eye. It infests meadows ready to he mown, wheat fields nearly ripe for the reaping hook, and often survives in hay lofts. Cows are thus not infrequently its victims.” REVOLUTION IN TELEPHONY. An innovation which sweeps away the occupation of the telephone girl is now being made the subject of a report to the Victorian Postal Department. An automatic instrument, by means of which fi subscriber can, by a very simple process, put himself into direct communication with anyone else on the system without the help of an intermediary, is being largely used in. America and England, and Mr Howard, who was recently commissioned by the Victorian Government to make himself acquainted with improvements m telegraphy and telephony in other parts of the world, is making special inquiries with a view to ascertaining whether the automatic principle might not be advantageously introduced in Victoria. It is claimed that the working of the instrument is very simple. Each subscriber has attached to his telephone a disc, pivoted at the centre, and bearing the figures 0 "o 9. If he wishes to speak to, say, No. G 24, he will insert his finger in an aperture opposite the figure 6, pull round the disc, and then do the same in succession in regard to the figures 2 and 4. Then he is connected with No. 624. When the conversation is finished ho hangs the receiver on its hook, and the figure switches automatically return to their normal positions. It is thought that the new system would he eminently suitable for use here, both in the suburban and country exchanges. The machines can be supplied at about 10b per year each. COMPLAINT BY DUNEDIN GRADUATES. An editorial in the “University Review” expresses the disappointment of the Dunedin graduates at the decision of the senate to make the presentation of diplomas an afternoon function. It says : —“The idea of an afternoon ceremony seems to us preposterous, and would meet with general disfavour from the public. Our chief object in petitioning was to secure the means of ensuring a large attendance. This, it is hardly necessary to point out, can be obtained only in the evening, as business engagements leave none but a very few free in the afternoon. Thus the

senate would not only frustrate our principal purpose, but would put us m a worse position than we are in at present; for we would far sooner tolerate the present imperfect accommodation at the University than have a dry, lifeless function in the afternoon. If the senate are afraid that the old disorder would bo repeated, we can assure them they are very much in the wrong. The students now have a definite system in their part of the ceremony, which would in no way interfere with the more serious part—the presentation of diplomas. In conclusion, the position may be stated thus: An evening function, even in the limited space at the University, is, as regards the wishes of the students and the convenience of the public, infinitely preferable to any afternoon function whatever, no matter where it be held. An evening function in a large hall, carried out as it-could and would be carried out now, is the best of all.” A NOBLiii An inquest held in London at the latter end of April elicited details of a really heroic action. Tom Griffin was a fitter’s labourer and assistant to Frederick Biggs, the engineer of a sugar refinery at Battersea. He was a bright, well-conducted young fellow, a universal favourite, and, though only twenty-one, he was to have been married on that very Saturday which followed his funeral. It seems that while Biggs and Griffin were changing their clothes in a small room a jarring sound was heard, and the engineer went out into the boiler-room to see what was the matter. He found that one of the steampipcs had burst, and as the scalding steam was rapidly filling the place, he escaped the nearest way by another door. Griffin had no idea that anything was wrong, but while he was still dressing, a fellowworkman, who had seen the steam escaping by a window, came and closed ail the doors leading to the boiler-room, warning everybody not to go into the room, as death from scalding would be the result. Griffin seemed to hesitate a moment, then he quietly said that Biggs was in there, and he must be got out at all hazards. He opened the door, passed through a corridor, opened the boiler-room door, and entered among the scalding steam. A second or two afterwards he staggired out. His mates closed the doors again, and took the poor fellow into the yard. Excellent “first aid” was given to him, and he was carried to the hospital, but died in the course of a few hours. The jury, in giving their verdict, added that “ he died as a hero.” HUTT RIVER BOARD. The classification for rating purposes made by the Hutt District River Board has not given satisfaction, judging by the fact that ninety-six objections to it have been lodged. It is understood that the Board intends to have another classification made by valuers. A Court of Appeal under the River Boards Act, 1884., was held at the Courthouse, Lower Hutt, yesterday, for the purpose of hearing the objections. Mr Bunny informed Mr Haselden, S.M., that on account of the large number of objections the Board had determined to rescind the present classification and have a fresh one made. The Board, he explained, had not actually passed a resolution in the direction ho had indicated, but that was the feeling of its members. He asked that the Court might therefore be adjourned sine die. Mr Haselden suggested that the list which had been submitted might be withdrawn; it would be easy to get a Court when one was required. Mr Bunny ac-

cepted the suggestion. On a point mentioned by Mr Bunny, an extra-judicial opinion was given by Mr Haselden that the natural order contemplated by the Act evidently was to first classify and then rate. A ROUGH TRIP. The well-worn quotation, “A policeman’s life is not a happy one,” apparently holds good in the case of Constable May, of Martinborough. He received instructions a few days ago to proceed to the coast in search of some wreckage which was reported to have been seen in the vicinity, and like a dutiful officer he started out from Martinborough at 8 a.m. on the 31st May. The road was in a fearful condition, and he arrived at the Paliara river, 22 miles away, at 2.30 p.m. As the river was in full flood and unfordable, he tried to reach Bush Gully by crossing the hills. A heavy fog, with rain, came on, and he lost his way, and wandered about until 4.30 p.m., when, the horse becoming knocked up, he took the saddle off and endeavoured to reach the station on foot. Darkness, however, overtook him, and he decided to light a fire and camp for the night. With some difficulty, on account of the heavy rain, he succeeded in making a blaze, which was seen from Bush Gully station, and Mr McLaren sent three men out with lanterns to search for the wayfarer. They found him very soon, and he reached Bush Gully in their company at 9 p.m. The following morning was very foggy and wet, but about 11 a.m. it cleared up a little, and the const dole, Mr McLaren and two men went in search of the Rorse, which they found about four miles from the station, the party returning home at about t o’clock in the afternoon. _As it was thought May might obtain some information at Glendhu, which lies not far from the Pahara river on the other bank, he left for that place at 7.30 on Friday morning, riding one of Mr MeLarents horses. When about eight miles from Bush Gully, while trying to pass a heavy slip, the bank gave .vav, and the horse, which he was leading, fell a distance of 20 feet into the creek below. The animal was got up by the aid of a rabbiter, and found to be little the worse for its fall, and as May could pro---ceed no further, he returned to Bush Gully, and then went home, where he arrived on Saturday last. He adds in his report that it had rained almost _ tinuously in that district for the past five weeks, and Mr McLaren states that during the last 2o years he has never known the roads to be so bad.

The presence of enormous quantities of kelp off the East Coast of the South Island and in Cook Strait is said to be due to the phenomenal storms experienced in the \icimty of the Chatham Islands, where this marine growth is found in great abundance. Messrs S. Kirkpatrick and Son, of Nelson, the manufacturers of the celebrated “ K ” jams, have forwarded us a sample of the marmalade they are now turning out, with a request for an expression of personal opinion as to its quality. The request came opportunely, as it found our “ taster ” in the position of being able to compare the “ K ” marmalade with some of the “ best Dundee” which he had been sampling. The verdict is that the local pi’oduct is in every respect equal in quality to the best Scotch; and patrons may, we suppose, derive a dual satisfaction from encouraging local industry and at the same time getting the best quality of marmalade at a lower price than is charged for the imported article.

In a country district in Canterbury (says the “Press”)a family was annoyed by a youth on a bicycle, who used to ride past and throw peas against the windowpanes. The other night he was scorching past at tlie usual pace, and after he had got a little beyond the house he came to a standstill, through his tyres bursting when passing over a number of tacks that had been laid as a trap for him. The inmates of the house, who had turned out on hearing the usual showers of peas on the window, were in time to see him start on a record run with the damaged bicycle hanging round his neck. A rather singular piece or evidence cam* up at the Dunedin Supreme Court on Saturday. The whole question for prosecution and defence rested upon the point of identity, as, unhappily, there could be no doubt that a dastardly assault had been committed. Of course there were other circumstances relied upon as showing the identity of the accused with the assailant of tne child, but the one matter which was regarded as confirmatory evidence consisted of the fact that the end of a cigarette was dropped by the man who committed the offence, that the paper round it was found to be “rippled,” and that a book of similar cigarette paper was found on the accused. The prisoner got five years’ imprisonment and a flogging.

During the recent voyage of the Orient mail steamer Oroya from London to Melbourne, one of the crew, an old man named W. Inglis, lost his life by drowning in the Red Sea while making an awning fast. He lost his balance and fell overboard. A plucky attempt at rescue was made by a young sailor, nineteen years of age, named Arthur Swanger, who, disregarding the danger from sharks, which infest this sea, jumped into the water, and succeeded in supporting his companion until, thoroughly exhausted, he was obliged to let go his hold. In the meantime a boat had been lowered and sent away in charge of the second officer, Mr A. H. Sergeant, and both men were eventually lifted on board, but all attempts to restore animation in the older man proved unavailing, and his body was buried at sea. The bravery of the rescuer was recognised by the passengers, who subscribed and presented him with £3O.

At a committee meeting of the Wellington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society it was decided to protest to Messrs Williamson and Musgro«\>, uho hold the colonial lights of all operas written by Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan, against tlie order they have made to the effect that any amateur society in New Zealand that wishes to produce one of their operas must pay a fee of 610 10s for each performance, instead of £5 os, as formerly. This is a rather extreme measure, as the “Firm” musthave received many hundreds of pounds in royalties from this colony, v,hich produces four operas to every one staged by amateurs in Australia. And as it is evident this colony is not to be visited, for some considerable time at least, by a first-class company under the management of Messrs Williamson and Musgrove, amateur productions would be likely to become still more numerous than in the past if it were not for the short-sighted policy that the “Firm” have adopted. It is hoped that other societies throughout the colony will join with that of Wellington in soliciting for the reduction of the royalties to their old standard, particularly seeing that the works of Gilbert anc! Sullivan are almost the only operas suitable for production by amateurs.