HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19869, 10 February 1920, Page 4

HERE AND THERE.

The inventor Dunlop, of Dunlop tyres fame, is seeking an injunction to restrain the Tyre Company from publishing his well-known portrait, on the grounds that it is too loppish, and that it annoys himself and his family. Mr John Boyd Dunlop, who invented the pneumatic tyre, lives at Leighton, Ailesbury Road, Dublin. Considering that benzine tins cost a shilling each to make, it is strange that so little use is found for them. Hundreds of thousands go to 1 waste in Mew Zealand alone. A little fortune awaits the man who can utilise them. American users are forbidden to make an opening in both ends, so presumably they are used. The only use made of them here is as a boxing for concrete bouse blocks.

Millie. Gaby Deslys, after a. flying visit to America, is, it is reported, returning in order to take up a contract with the Uni one Cinematografica Ita liana, the largest combination v>f film producers in Italy. Gaby is to receive no less than live million francs, roughly about £200,000, for appearing in four big productions in one year. This is the largest salary every paid an artist in Italy. It is probable that her hast appearance will be in “ Cvrano de Bergerac.”

Apples, say a Honip contemporary, a f e to be found on sale in English shops all the year round. And the reason is easily given. No fewer than one hundred and twtnty thousand cases of apples have been shipped to the Thames Horn Tasmania, at the other side of the world, where their summer is 'our winter, This too, is, in addition to a very large quantity that arrived in London from New’ Zealand and Sydney. With the surplus from our own orchards, and those from gardens in other countries, apples wil] scarcely ever bo out of season. And it is well, for vegetarian." declare, that apples and bread yield all that is required for human sustenance.

The latest sensation in New’ York is a truly astonishing super-movie house entitled “The Capitol.” Situated on Broadway, it has cost six and a half million dollars, seats 5300 people, and has a foyer 180 feet long. The daily iecoipts for two de luxe performances cannot be less than £IOOO. The decorations are thy. last word in rich henvvi curtains and deep gold, with thick carpets, low-cushioned armchairs and fvescoes: The programme, lasting three and a. half hours, includes vaudeville classical music, topical and scenic films and the usual five-reel picture. As a ? mldin K the Metropolitan Opera House itself does not compare with the Capitol.

Another pre-war calling hja s been rovuecl in Paris, the “ living advertisements, which Used to amuse the boulevards (says the “Daily Mail.”) On a recent afternoon about one hundred persons followed down the Boulevard dos Itahens a man wearing an iripc(v cable frock coat and silk hat. Aloft in his hand was a patent leather boot. He walked, apparently unconscious of attention, until he reached a well-known bootmaker’s. Then he stopped and pointed to the shop with his boot, and in dumb show invited his followers to inspect the window display or enter the shop and purchase similar footwear for themselves.

A blue sun has appeared once only, and will probably never bo seed again even to tho end of existence. This occurred in August, 1883, at the vSundu States. The cause was the eruption of a largo volcano. In tho terrible shock that followed, a great range of mountains was blown completely into tho air. Tho reader will see what the explosion was like, when it is said that at Batavia, exactly one hundred miles away, the street lamps had to bo lit, although the time was not.yet noon. The sun up to this time was completely obscured; but towards sunset—the sunset that only the tropics know—came the magnificent phenomenon known to astronomers as the Blue Sun. This was seen by everyone within 30 or 40 degrees of the Equator.

As the result of Biffcn’s plant-breed-ing work at Cambridge, England, new wheats haye been produced and grown over extensive areas in tho Eastern counties__that have yielded crops at tlio rate of 60 to 60 bushels per aero. This is to he compared with tho average yield of wheat in England at about 32 bushels per acre. The now wheats are not only more productive, but arc less liable to disease, and the quality of the flour is superior to that of ordinary English wheats. In regard to India it is estimated that the Pnsa. wheats raised by tho Howards will shortly bo established over five million acres, and it is anticipated that they will bring in an increase in the value of tho agricultural produce of India, in one crop only, of five millions sterling.-

Superstitious readers, says “London Answers,” will bo interested in the following extraordinary story, ’of which tho hero is F. G. Cordwell, u well ( known Fleet Street newspaper man. Mr Cordwell has been literally dogged by tht number 13. It was on tho lliirtoonth of the month that he attested, went to France, went into ac-i tion, got his first leave, and returned 1 to take up his commission. It was in tho thirteenth tent, in thirteen lines, thirteenth camp, that he had his first lodgment in France. Tho tent contained thirteen men. Ho had thirteen days in hospital. He was given, No. 13 pills. And. returning La cjvil work January 13, he found that his old' room had been numbered 13. Now count up the above coincidences. You will find 13 of them.

In Japan many more women than men work in factories. 1 The figures for 19,299 factories arc: Male labour per cent, female labour 58 per cent. Of tho total number of child labourers under fifteen years of age 18 per ecus only are boys, and 82 per cent girls. More than one-half of all the female workers in tho country are under twenty years old. Four-fifths of these women work at the textile trades—spinning, weaving and dyeing. As the factories all work night shifts tho girls have alternate night end day work. According to one writer the living conditions at the workers are so intolerable that four-fifths of the girls leave at tho end of their years employment, many of them completely broken in health. There is always sufficient supply of new workers to take the place of tho old, so that the employers have not been forced to improve the conditions of their factories.

The inquest on the body of Otto Haul), who was shot dead at Lake Oilton (W.A.) shows that deceased left his homo with a shot-gun and rifle in look for duck- The reports of a rifle and gun being fired wore subsequently heard. Haul) did not return, and his wife searched, and found his body on the shore of the lake, with many'pellet wounds in his breast, some penetrating the heart. His discharged rifle was 200 yards away. His gun could not bo found. A punt had been run ashore twenty yards from where the body was found, and a discharged cartridge was ten yards from it. A shot had boon fired within fifteen yards. A gun wad was sticking on Haub's shirt, and the wound was all comprised within a circle of eight inches diameter. Robert Paid, who is in custody, ami between whom and Haul) there was long-standing ill-will, was shooting on the lake in the punt that morning. Alexander Hay, who was with Pahl’s party, deposed that Paid came back to the camp and said he had been approaching a mob of ducks when- someone fired at them across the lake. He (Pahl) then crossed the lake, and “ put a charge of shot into him.” One of the party said, “ Come up and we will give Otto a hiding.” Pahl renlied “ T have already shot him.” There' was nothing unusual in Paid's manner, ami Uay did not believe, him at tins time.