HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16814, 17 August 1922, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. IF LENIN SHOULD DIE? “ Lenin is a, statesman—the greatest statesman Russia ha»s produced since Peter the Great. It is this quality that lifts him head and shoulders above his contemporaries in Soviet Russia, and compels us to face the possibility of the collapse of the whole system of Soviet Government if he dies or permanently retires. None of the other leaders, with all their ability, has shown that touch of genius which made Lenin one of the most interesting and picturesque, if also one of the most sinister figures on the European stage. It is the pre-eminence of his personality that makes it impossible to say with any certainty what will happen in the next six month*?.”—“The Outlook.” FIRE-EXTINGUISHING PISTOL. Some fire cannot be put out with water. In the case of burning oil. for t instance, water would only spread the .fire by causing the flaming oil to float over a greater area. The best method in fires of this description i s to stifle thu flames with some such gas as carbon dioxide, which prevents combustion. But the difficulty has now. it is claimed, been overcome by a new device consisting of a pistol so light that a woman can manipulate it. The trigger is pulled and a. powder is fired at the blazing area, whereupon the gas is freed, the flames are smothered! and the fire extinguished. Where a large area is blazing several shots immt be fired. The powder is packed in air-tight cartridges, fitted with percussion caps, and these can be fired not only at horizontal surfaces, but also at vertical surfaces, such as curtains and draperies. In Germanv f motor-cars are carrying these pistols, as they are particularly effective in the case of petrol and benzine fires. *** COINS OF CRCESUS. Thirty gold coins of the reign ol Croesus, the famous King of Lydia, belonging to the first series discovered by American, archeologists among the ruins of Sardis, the ancient captal of Lydia, in Asia. AXinor. They date from the period between 561 8.C., when Croesus ascended the throne, to 546 8.C., when his capital was taken by the Persian King Cyrus. The coins, which are known as staters, are in excellent condition. although some appear to have been in circulation for some time. Before this discovery only five staters were known to exist, all of which are in the British Aluseum, but only one is in a good condition. The coins were found in a small earthen vessel among the ruins of a. tomb. It is believed that they were hidden there by a wealthy Lydian merchant, during the siege of the city by Ovrus, which lasted fourteen days. The coins are still in the possession of the finders at Sardis, where they will remain pending a decision as to their ultimate ownership. The ruins lie in the territory of mandated Greece under the Treaty of Sevres, which provided that in case of such discoveries as these, half should go to the museum at Constantinople, and a half to the finders. A GENERAL FINED. A charge against Alajojr-Genera! Garner Burk Hughes, C. 8., D. 5.0., who commanded a Canadian Division, and ie the son of Sir Sam Hughes, of being drunk whilst in charge of a motor-car at Chelsea on June 9, was heard in London recently. eral Hughes denied that he was drums: and said the car was a very powerful one and had a troublesome starting gear, which kicked. His evidence was corroborated by witnesses, and evidence as to character wa® given by Lord Beaverbrook and Colonel Amery, AI.P. Air Francis, the magistrate, said the case was an unpleasant one. He came to the conclusion that Major-General Hughes was drunk, although the condition of the car might have accentuated the trouble. He imposed a fine of 40s and 10 guineas costs. Notice of appeal was given. AIUSCULAR INSECTS. Probably the most wonderful feature of a mosquito is its muscularity. This may seem a ludicrous statement, but a great surprise awaits anyone who for the first time examines one of these insects under a glass. Size for size, a mosquito’s wing muscles are equal to an eagle’s. A Belgian scientist found -that a bee. weight for weight, was thirty times as strong as a horse. It has been found that an ordinary housefly can lift a match stick, and that in doing so it exerts as much power in proportion to its size as a man would need to use if he tried to hold aloft on his feet a beam fourteen feet long by thirty inches square. Spiders some times exhibit wonderful strength, especially in conflict. There is a spider in Java that is the dread of all other insects: and it makes a web that can hardly be cut with a knife! With spiders. >ize is not- always a measure of strength: but this fellow has both hulk and power. An ordinary ant can tarry ten times its own weight. PROFIT FROAr PEAT.

A little known, yet profitable, industry is peat cutting, which is carried or in many parts of Ireland. AYork usually begins at the bogs at the end of April. The skilled cutter, who has two men with low side less wheelbarrows in attendance, uses a kind of spade, called a slane. the sods being cut up and removed to dry land. A few days later, when the sods have become a little less brittle, they are spread carefully all over the ground and left to dry. The next step is to pile the turf into a skilfully made heap, which allows the wind to pass between the different pieces. Usually it is two or three months before the peats are read? for use as fuel. Peat is used in Ireland to such an extent- that few people in the country districts ever burn coal. The odour of peat is healthy and pleasant. and it gives out neither fumes nor dirt.