HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18349, 29 December 1927, Page 8

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING.

Transparent Flesh. A French doctor named Andre Tours claims to have discovered a means of making the human body transparent, so that all the. organs can be seen, working as if through a mirror. lie claims that his discovery will revolutionise surgery and medicine. When I interviewed Dr Tours, he said: “In future the human mechanism will be open to the doctor’s eye. No longer will he have to diagnose almost blindly and consult with others. He will be able to see the trouble at once. In surgery, ip consumption, in cancer, and all the diseases, the transparency of flesh will lx* an enormous boon to doctors.” Dr Tours preferred not to talk about the exact nature of his discovery. “It is a secret at present.” he said, “but soon I shall reveal it to the medical profession.” x x x Smuggling by Air. Abraham Max Flatto, an importer of silk goods. London, appeared at the Mansion House to answ-er nine summonses for being concerned in fraudulently evading the duty on silk and artificial silk garments imported at the Croydon Aerodrome. The treble value of duty concerned amounted to £1782. Mr “Gibson, prosecuting, said that when a Customs officer made inquiries at Flatto’s premises with regard to goods imported from Brussels he found that all the things, w’hich came from a man named Finkelstein, had two invoices, one in francs and the other in sterling. The lower invoice was produced for the Customs, to evade the duty. Mr Myers, defending, said it was evident that Finkelstein had carried on a system of fraud on the Customs not only in this but also in other cases, but Flatto did not know anything was wrong until the visit of the Customs official. Mr Aiderman Greenaway said he could not believe that Flatto knew nothing of the frauds and Flatto would be fined £270 and £lO 10s costs. Si X Si Woman Seas Castle “Ghost.”

A woman visitor to Portchester Castle, Portsmouth, reported that while she was searching among the ruins for ancient inscriptions she saw an apparition in the keep. “I was alone,” she said, “and w’hen crossing the keep to a breach in the west wall, which gives entrance to a spiral stairw’ay leading to the ramparts, I was amazed to sea the figure of a man. tall, stalwart and distinguished, kneeling on the stairs. He was dressed as a Crusader. My amazement gave place to an indefinable sense of fear, and I hastily left the keep. I spoke to the custodian of the castle, but received no explanation other than a hint that he had heard curious tales before. It is beyond my comprehension as to who the warrior was or why he should be there. ’ An. Indian Hollywood. New’s has reached Bombay of the formation of a new film company in India, started on the initiative of Prince Shar Singh, a cousin of the Maharajah of Kashmir. The Prince de sires to incorporate American ideas in Indian studios. He is reported (says the Indian News Service) to have stated that six Indian Maharajahs are hacking him in this undertaking and that if necessary millions will be available to make it a success. The American contribution has been furnished by Mrs E. O. T. Miller, a wealthy Cleveland (Ohio) woman, who is the vicepresident of the new concern. German technical experts have been secured, but the rest of the personnel is purely Indian Greta Nissen has been offered a contract for one qf the principal stories to be depicted on the screen, which will centre round the Taj Mahal. x k Be Ms-teak Club. The Beefsteak Club in Green Street, Leicester Square. London, w r as the outcome of -the Sublime Society of Beefsteaks, a convivial coterie of noblemen and gentlemen who -used to meet to partake of beefsteaks and beer in a room in the Lyceum Theatre. Amongst the members ’of this society, which was dissolved in 1569, were the Prince of Wales, afterwards George IV., the Dukes of Norfolk. Argvle and Leinster, and John Wilkes, the “Apostle of Libertv.” The present clubhouse is unique of its kind, consisting of one large room with a high-pitched roof, designed after the fashion of a college hall. There was an older Beefsteak Club, mentioned by Ned Ward in 1709. of which Peg Woffington was a member.

Si X X Free Land in Canada. During June last 808 men—totalling with their wives and families 1880- - took up free grants of Canadian land, an increase of 104 on the corresponding month last year. They included 90 American, 85 persons from the United Kingdom. 53 Norwegians, 49 Austrians, 42 Russians, and 42 Poles. These homesteads consist of 160 acres, and are. given to British subjects or those who will adopt. British nationality, on pay ment of a registration fee of £2 When certain requirements in the way of residence and cultivation over a period of three years have been fulfilled the homestead becomes the absolute property of the settler. During June 335 people received such title in respect of 45,086 acres. .