HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17835, 1 May 1926, Page 8

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. IMPROVING ON NATURE. The production of synthetic camphor from turpentine oil in Great Britain appears to be an accomplished fact. Exact details are not known, but from one to three tons a day have been quoted as estimates of the production. The camphor industry until recent years has been & monopoly of the Japanese, who have continually increased the price of the natural product and have thus forced European consumers to manufacture camphor Such manufacture is itv deed satisfactory, especially as it has spread to Britain on a fairly large scale. Everything points to the fact (sa} r s a writer in “The Industrial Chemist”) that, it is the synthetic product and not the natural variety that now governs the price. LAST OF THEIR LINE. Of this country's former fleets of windjammers, onlj' six ships now remain on the British register at Lloyd's. The survivors are William Mitchell, Garthneil, Kilmallie, Monkbarns, Garthpool, and Rewa. The first three are on voyage to Australian ports; Rewa is laid up for repairs, while the other two are in port at Callao (Peru). All these line ships have been afloat for more than thirty years. The Garthpool is the only British four-master to be found to-day on the Seven Seas. Grain, salt, and nitrate are practically the only cargoes the ships are now offered. The world's largest owners of sailing vessels at the present time are the Finns, who, it seems almost certain, will in time acquire the vessels referred to above. NEVER MIND THE MUD. Mud splashes on stockings and

clothes when walking on muddy roads are a frequent source of annoyance to pedestrians, but a recent invention is said to prevent them. The placing of the foot on the ground causes a lever situated in the fore part of the heel to impart an oscillating movement to a finger at the back of the heel. This finger wipes the mud from the heel every time the foot is raised from the ground. The mechanism itself is entirely enclosed and is weather-proof; moreover (says a writer in “English Mechanics”), it does not detract from the shape or lines of the boot or shoe. FLY AND BAIT CASTING. A fly and bait-casting tournament would be in New Zealand, notwithstanding that it is the “angler’s paradise," but in Paris last month the Casting Club de France conducted a competition of this nature with great success. There was the usual variety of events, both for distance and accuracy and for spinning and flj'-rods. One amusing contest on the programme was a distance competition, in -which all competitors had to use the same trout rod, reel and line which were furnished by a famous English tackle-house, but were not produced until the last moment. The equipment itself constituted the prize. At last year’s tournament some good peri forrnances were recorded. The salmon fly, for instance, propelled by W. M. Plevins. reached 49vds Bin. which is a very long cast indeed, although he once passed the 50yds mark. John Enright once cast 49yds with an 18ft rod. Anything over 40yds is a long cast for a salmon rod and anything over about 2Syds is a long cast for a trout rod. A distance of over 34yds was reached with the latter rod in Paris last year by M. Perruche. Other big casts were 65yds. 3in., 89yds. 6in, and 115yds. Ift. 3in. made with bait# weighing ion., and 2}oz. respeo tively.