HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16555, 14 October 1921, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

FIGHT AVITH A BADGER. A man has had a fierce fight with % badger in Surrey, and only succeeded with difficulty in gaining the victory. The badger was hiding under a rhododendron bush, and when the man approached the creature attacked hint furiously, though, aa a rule, badgers run away when alarmed. This animal, however, made no attempt to escape, but when it eaw the* man coming near it advanced viciously, and, but for the fact that tlie man happened to have aa axe in his hand at the time, he would have been severely mauled, for no other British wild animal can inflict such serious wounds. Several times the man was forced to retreat, but at last he dispatched tho animal, which was afterwards found to be a male badger weighing 241 b. A FOREST OF DWARFS. By methods as drastic in their way a a the Chinese dwarfing of the feet of their women, the Japanese gardeners rear pines and other forest trees, which •when fully grown are not more than a foot or two But in England (observes “Everyday Science”) there is a forest of dwarfs none of which ever increase in size, but remain and have remained for 500 years only 10ft high. They are the dwarf oaks of Wist man’s Wood, on 3>artmoor. Their position is curious. They extend for about five acres in the centre of the moor, at an elevation of 1500 ft, end they spring up in the deep crevices of huge granite blocks, locally called a. “ clatter.” There is no soil to be seen. The rocks are heaped together in such precipitous confusion that no grazing animals ever cross the forest track. The toy-like oaks are in all respects remarkahle. Most cf them are of bushy or scrubby habit: some of them only 4ft in height, with fantastically gnarled and twisted branches, and often! overgrown with shaggy lichens and hanging moss. Yet they arc healthy, acorn-bearing trees, and none of seems to bo dead or dying. At the nrtti glance they are like the stunted trees of Japan, but their sturdy little drunks measure 60 to 70 inches round. Tho wood was mentioned 300 years ago by a local historian, who described it in detail just as it- exists to-day. It is believed t-o be a survitor of other similar groves which mav once have occupied scattered areas upon the moor, and, owing to the protection of the granite rampart, it haa survived them. UNDAZZLED BY THE STAGE. Miss Gertrude Bugler, Dorchester*3 country girl actress, who in spite of her success as one of the Hardy players, refused all offers to go on the London stage, staying at home instead to help in her father’s pastrycook whop, is to be married this summer. She will still be Gertrude Bugler, for she is to wed a cousin of the same name who lives in the Dorset village of Beamington. PRISON SET ON FIRE. A riot broke out recently in tbe AVestern Penitentiary, Pittsburg. Tho guards were compelled to tire on tho prisoners, many of whom were wound* ed. and uomc seriously. The prison was :*et on fire and a large part re-, duced to ruins. State and city police were summoned to quell the disturbance and civilians helped the garrison guards. Prisoners were seen clamour* ing behind the bars in tfie parts of the building left standing after the fir©. FATE OF A CHURCH. As the parish vestry has found it In* possible to spend £IOOO t-o make the building safe for use, St Mary’a Church, in Old Portsmouth, is to bo demolished. Application is to be mado to the Consistory Court, for a faculty to sell the structure for £6O to a lccai marine store dealer, who desires th© material for the erection of a cinema. Permission is also being sought t-o level a portion of the churchyard, on the site of which it is proposed to lay outa tennis court-s. bowling greens and quoit pitches. A BURGLAR ALARM. A French chemist has suggested an ingenious and somewhat humorous burglar alarm. He has submitted.it- to the laboratory of “ La Nature,” where it did all that was claimed of it by its inventor. It consists of powdered iodine and ammonia. The iodine is first dusted over tlie floor, very little being A sufficient quantity of ammonia to moisten the powder is then sprinkled over it. This evaporates very quickly, leaving a substance—iodine nitrate—which will explode or detonate at the slightest touch. Even a rat running across the floor will set- up a series of tiny explosions. The unsuspecting burglar, though bo tread as lightly, as he can in the softest of felt slippers, will think he is walking or**r bunches of Chinese cracker*, and will arouse the entire household.