People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20222, 5 February 1934, Page 6

People and Their Doings.

Professor Haber’s War Services Nearly Cost Him the Nobel Prize Walter Wellman’s Polar Flights : Movie Stars Personally Known in Christchurch.

PROFESSOR FRITZ HABER’S death in exile in spite of his wartime scientific services to Germany recalls the fact that these services also nearly cost him the Nobel Prize. He specialised in electrochemistry. devoting his chief attention to electrolytic reductions and to the demonstration of Faraday’s law, as well as to the production of aluminium by chemical means, but later became known in connection with researches into gases through the construction of the “ Haber interferometer ” and of the “ Haber fire-damp tube.” His most important achievement was the winning of nitrogen from the air, a process through which German agriculture was made independent of a supply of natural nitrates during the war. He was awarded the Nobel Chemistry Prize in 1919, chiefly on account of this discovery, but this award was criticised in many quarters outside Germany, chiefly on the ground that Haber had rendered important services to the German forces during the war by providing them with explosives in this way. Professor Klason, the judge who awarded the chemistry prize, pointed out, however, that Haber’s process had been made known before the war and that it made possible the production of cheap nitrate fertilisers and was thus of universal importance in the production of food.

e ® pRiNCESS INGRID has just completed a magnificent altar hanging for the newly restored Palace-Church in Stockholm, where the Swedish royal family worships. The late Crown Princess Margaret, daughter of the Duke of Connaught, and Ingrid’s mother, planned the gift; she was an expert in ecclesiastical embroidery, and Ingrid has regarded the completion of the task as a sacred legacy, since it was interrupted by her mother’s untimely death. It has taken years for the young Princess to acquire the necessary skill for the intricate stitching in heavy gold thread and fine pink and purple silks, and she took lessons under experts before putting the actual work on the precious cloth in hand. For more than a year Ingrid has worked at her embroidery frame, sometimes several hours a day, and at last the exquisite cloth is finished.

yyALTER WELLMAN, the scientist, who has just died, achieved a remarkable record of Polar exploration on the ice and from the air. As early as 1894 he led an expedition to the Arctic regions, reaching latitude 81 degrees north-east of Spitzbergen. Four years later he went to Franz Josef Land, discovering many new islands and reaching latitude 82 degrees. He built a large airship in Paris in the spring of 1906 and took it to Dane's Island, Spitzbergen, in the summer. That was the year of the Wellman, Chicago Record-Herald Expedition, but he did not attempt his aerial voyage to the North Pole till September, 1907, after rebuilding his airship, “ America.” Still hoping for success, he again rebuilt the airship, the second largest in the world at that time, and with three companions made a voyage from Spitzbergen over the pack ice, a distance of about sixty miles, but he was forced to return after an accident to the auxiliary devices of the aircraft. In 1910 in the same airship, again rebuilt, he tried to reach Europe from Atlantic City, but was picked up 375 miles east of Cape Ilatteras. He had, however, been three days and three nights in the air and sailed 1010 miles, breaking the then world’s record for time and distance. Walter Wellman published the book which exposed Dr Cook’s claim to Polar discovery. S 9 THREE YEARS AGO, “Blue,” a cattle dog, was taken for a walk in Sydney by his master. There was a scream of car brakes at a street crossing, a crowd, and then an ambulance took “ Blue’s ” master to the St George District Hospital, where he died. In the three years that have elapsed “ Blue ” has not left the gates of the hospital. Heat or cold, rain or drought make no difference. He never moves far from the one spot, and hospital attendants feed him regularly. A dozen homes are available for “ Blue.” but he will go with no one. lie is still waiting for the master, who will never come back.

WITH an ever-increasing number of good British talking pictures, it is interesting to see in the casts the names of a great many players who. within the last few years, have appeared in the flesh in Christchurch. Herbert Mundin appeared »n the screen version of “Cavalcade”; five or six years ago he was in Christchurch as the principal comedian of “ The Desert Song ”. Incidentally, the co-star of that stage production. Miss Romola Hansen, will shortly make her third visit to Christchurch, as the principal of a musical comedy company. She also appeared here in “ The New Moon ” and “ The Belle of New York ”. Another comedian, George Gee, who was well known in Christchurch, was the star of a recent film shown here, and in “ Soldiers of the King ”, now showing, Bransby Williams and Ilerschel Henlere both have parts. Mr Williams made two tours of New Zealand, doing Dickens characterisations, while Ilerschel Ilenlere, a French Canadian, was responsible for a charming piano novelty in one of Williamson’s vaudeville shows.

3? CIXTY YEARS AGO (from the “Star" of February 5, 1874) : Auckland, February s.—lt is stated that the Flora Macdonald was in a thoroughly unseaworthy condition through age. The disaster has caused an agitation for a Government inspection of sailing vessels. Grahamstown, February 4.—The telegraph tower on the eastern bank of the Thames River was burnt down this morning. Communication with Auckland and intermediate stations is interrupted. There is no bush or scrub near the tower, and no cine to the origin of the fire. Postal Guide. —The first number of the new postal guide for the colony—to be published quarterly by the Postmaster-General —has been received. It is businesslike in everv respect, and full of information. The guide is published from the Government printing office at Wellington. Nelson, February 4—The anniversary holidav yesterday was strictly kept. There was a large turn-out of the friendly societies at the sports. The one-mile race was run : o 4min 56sec.