General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 229, 30 September 1935, Page 6

General News

An unusual accident occurred at Hamilton, -when Hector Webb, aged 9A years, the son of Air. A. E. AV ebb, solicitor, of Hamilton, was seriously injured in the right eye. The boy was peeling a golf ball, and on the core being reached the compressed centre containing liquid burst, the boy’ being struck in the eye. He was taken to a specialist, who treated the eye, which was in a painful condition. It is not known yet whether the sight, will be affected. Visitors from Moravia. .Mr. B. Pospisil, author and journal ist. of Prague, is at present in the Dominion entrusted with a. special mission On behalf of the ethnographical [ department of the regional museum of Moravia for study. Mr. Pospisil, who carries a recommendation from the < zocho-blovakian Ministry' of Foreign Affairs and from the curator of the Moravian Museum, has visited most countries of the world and has a pari ticularly good collection of photoI graphs at present on exhibition. He is married to a New Zealand lady, and has published a book on the attractions of the Dominion in his native counHelp from a Hymn. Prior to the singing of the hymn, “Eternal Father, .Strong to .Save,” at the broadcast from -St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Wellington, recently, the minister, the Rev. A. B. Kikoy, said that having noticed that this hymn was sung at every broadcast service, ho suggested that another one should be chosen in its place occasion ally. However, when he heard the reason why the hymn was always in clurled in the broadcast service he was fully in. agreement with its retention. The reason was that some years ago a Norwegian barque was in difficulties in a gale off the New Zealand coast, but the crew were greatly' heartened by r the broadcast service from St. Andrew’s. and especially by the singing of the hymn in question, which was very suitable for those in peril on the

Palmerston North Aerodrome. In view of the interest that rival airway companies have focused on Palmerston North’s aerodrome and the importance that has been credited the location as a future centre of air trans port, fears are still being expressed as to the likelihood of the landing field being insufficiently improved to accom- j modate the large aircraft expected to I call there. It has been pointed out to local body' representatives who urged that the work should be treated as an essential one and then kept going five days a week instead of three, as at present, that such a change would involve the whole policy of the Unemployment Board. This being the ea-se, it is prob able that overtures will be made to the board almost immediately. In the meantime work in the immediate vicinity' of the hangar and administrative buildings is being pushed ahead, and shortly the main east-to-west runway is to be attended to with the object of having it prepared by January.

Thrilling Rescue. A. thrilling rescue was effected in Brisbane some days ago. Mrs. F. Birch, of Glebe, Sydney, had been tossed overboard by big seas from the launch Sunset, as she was transhipping passengers to the inter-State liner Manoora at the anchorage at Mackay. The heavy seas caused the launch to lurch away from the Alanoora, and Airs. Birch was th now n from the stern of the launch into the angry’ seas, to the horrified shouts and screams of a vast ciowd of passengers on the liner. Chief Officer AlcLaren, who was shout ing orders to his men on the gangway, threw off his coat with desperate haste and dived overboard from a height of 30ft., and simultaneously Mr. A. Ship pen. an elderly Melbourne tourist on the vessel, dived 40ft, from the top deck. Both men swam to the woman, who was being swirled about by the violent waves, and effected a rescue, to the accompaniment, of resounding cheers of the passengers. A Bloodless Duel. fl An amusing story of a bloodless duel fought between Archdeacon Henry Williams, the famous mission ary, and Tohi Tapu, one of the greatest of the Alaori tohungas. was told during a lecture to the Hastings Historical Society by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Bonnett, states the Hawke’s Bay Herald. Tohi, who was a grim and all-powerful tohunga. said the Bishop, once saw some blankets hanging on a line in the grounds of the Archdeacon’s house. He wont in and peremptorily de manded to be given some of thorn, but the Archdeacon declined. Tohi there, upon threatened to attaok the Archdeacon with a mere, and the Arch deacon, who had been a naval officer, retaliated by pulling out from his pocket a telescope that he always carried with him.’ At last he stabbed Tohi with it, and as the telescope made contact with the Maori's body it col lapsed. Tohi looked to see where the other end of it had come out and apparently had such a fright that ho gave in. Afterwards. Tohi and the Arch deacon were the best of friends. Imitation of Negroes. ‘‘While the so-called coloured races are improving their musical culture by leaps and hounds, the British all O'er the world are deteriorating by their fatuous imitation of the negroes' original ‘music,’ ’’ declared Mr. C. I.ger ton Lowe, examiner for the Trinit' College ot" music, in an interview at Christchurch on Saturday, states the Press. Mr. Lune, who has arrived in Christchurch to conduct examinations for the college, has travelled in man.' parts of the world and has some very deiinile opinions on the elfeut that radio has had on the musical stan dards of the English-speaking people. “ 1 think musical broadcasting is being greatly overdone; there is far too much of it," he said. “One does not want music at all hours of the day. and even if it. weie of the best quality it would be wrong; but as it is a great deal of lhe music placed on the air is very inferior. This remark refers particu larlv I" the British Broadcasting Cor poration. a company with unlimited power and almost unlimted moans. If. for lack of artists or funds which seems incredible —it is obliged Io engage mediocre bands, players and sing e:s. it should reduce the quantity jt broadcast s/J