NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 38

NEWS IN BRIEF.

“Into the original design of the Alexander Museum there have been introduced two sculptured panels, one on either side of the central entrance, delineating some branch of science and making vocal the object of the building,’’ said Mr S. Hurst Seagar to a Wanganui Chronicle representative one day last week. “Will not some generous citizens give these panels?” Mr Hurst Seagar said the building was costing £9OOO, and as the «ity was getting wonderful value for the money there would he no further funds for the panels, which, he estimated, would cost some £250 each. The Mines Department has placed an order for an arc coal cutter and electric boring machine lor use at the James State colliery (says the Wellington Post). The coal in the James colliery is very hard, and it is expected that the result to be obtained by boring it mechanically will be an increased output of larger coal, besides enabling the miners to earn increased wages. Conditions of the order require the plant to be delivered within four months, and to work efficiently and satisfactorily.

An unusual experience which gees to •how the danger which is nearly always present when a live electric wire has en broken was the lot recently of a boy not four years old at Taikorca, near Palmerston North (says a correspondent of the Dominion). A few days ago, Mr J. L. Mudford, a farmer, of Taikorea, was felling a branch of a tree near some power lines which connected with his milking shed. While falling, however, the branch struck the wires, breaking them as it did so. All precautions were taken by Mr Mudford to prevent any of his family from corning into contact with the wires, but unfortunately these did not prevent his infant son from finding out the danger which lies in such wires when broken. '1 hs little boy took hold of the wires of a fence which was some 50 yards away from the electric wires which had been broken. The result was that he was unable to release his hold of the fence, for the reason that in some manner the fencing wire had become charged with electricity. He called for assistance, but at first it was thought that he was merely shouting to his elder brothers and sisters, who were at the time returning from school. Mr Mudford, however, was not long in realising the true situation, and he rushed to the assistance of the boy, who by this time was thoroughly frightened by the unusual experience. In releasing his child’s grip of the fence Mr Mudford himself received a shock of some severity, although fortunately no ill-effects were experi ?d by either victim of the accident.