News in Brief.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20542, 18 February 1935, Page 6

News in Brief.

“ One Big Eat.” Railroad journeys in this country seem to me to be just one big eat,” said an American woman tourist, who has spent some weeks in the Dominion, and who during her travels about the country, has used the railways to a considerable extent. Remarking on the number of stations on the various lines at which time was allowed for the procuring of refreshments, the visitor said: “People seem to jump out of trains at every opportunity for the purpose of joining the scramble for the refreshment rooms, and return to their cars laden with cups of tea and food, which appear to satisfy them for only a few miles. Then out they rush again. No doubt the refreshment rooms are a pretty rich source of revenue to the authorities who provide them, but so much catering for journeys so short does appear to be unnecessary.” “Crane” for Lifting Patients. A small portable “ crane ” that will lift a patient weighing up to 20st with a force of only 7ilb has been invented by the resident engineer of the Auckland Hospital, Mr F. C. Jacobs. The machine runs on a wheeled chassis, and can be worked by one nurse. The patient is placed on a canvas sheet attached by six pulleys, and the lifting force is so cleverly devised that the patient can be moved with the minimum of discomfort. It is expected to be a boon both to patients and nurses at the hospital and infirmary. Mr Jacobs has already invented several devices at the hospital, including a potato-peeler and a “ glass silk ” blanket. The latter is formed of very fine strands of drawn glass, and is expected to revolutionise methods of sound and heat insulation. Owing to the fineness of the glass it is not brittle, but very tensile.