LIFE’S LITTLE WANTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 29 November 1926, Page 4

LIFE’S LITTLE WANTS.

Fast Runners Hired. The diamond rush at tho Transvaal district last month has created a grave issue in South African amateur sporting circles, and the governing bodies have been asked to rule whether “Diamond •Runners’' may retain amateur standing. Trained athletes, some of whom were contestants in the Olympic games, were hired by syndicates to stake out claims. 6nq syndicate employed thirty university athletes as runners. In the rush some 16,000 persons, including more than 100 women, scrambled to stake out claims on a farm in , the Transvaal, where one party prospectors alone had found diamondHe worth £36,000.

More than 25,000 claims were pegged out in the rush, and the .population of .the district was increased from a few hundred to almost 50.000 overnight. The mining commissioners, to insure fairness, made all contestants in the diamond rush take our. a license and start at the time from a spot a considerable distance from the treasure field.

! The trained runners naturally had the best of the race, but, the fact, that they wore acting for syndicates and not for themselves irritated the other contestants, who do not. think they had a fair chance. It is proposed tip take the complaints before the International Athletic Federation if the South African body refuses to act. * * * * Conservation of Watershed. Speaking at the meeting of the Holdsworth Committee, Mr H. E. ner drew attention to the necessity orpreserving, the hush in the vicinity of the mountain. This area embraces a portion of the water catchment area of Masterton, and in the interests of the town should be protected as far as possible from destruction. When bush is destroyed, the rain does not percolate slowly through the ground, but' is carried with a rush into the streams and thence quickly into the main waterway. Masterton has an adequate water supply at the present time for all purposes, but it is necessary to preserve the bush in the region of the mountains in order that there shall be no shortage to future generations. Mr Gardner has drawn public attention to a matter of vital importance, and the Government should be urged to act promptly. 7T * * Less Fear of Death. An American psychologist ’urges that the medi.ehl profession should undertake a systematic and scientific study of the dying hour. > -V Dr Arthur MacDonald suggests, as a result of the knowledge gained iiflp such a study, the treatment of the dying might be made more delicate and more humane.

He recommends that every medical society should encourage its members to study the psychology and physiology of death whenever there is a suitable l opportunity.

“’Finally,” he says, “the knowledge of the dying time may be -so increased that physical death will cease to be feared or dreaded by all persons, since through such knowledge- pain may be practically eliminated and death may be made easy, gentle, and placid.” * it * * Better Costumes for Athletes.

The influence of women is going to alter our athletic sports (says an English writer). Under the rules of the Women’s Amateur Athletic Association a wrap or coat must be worn when proceeding from the dressing-rojm to the poiiit of competition. As one might expect, the lady athletes display siderable taste in regard to their etc. • Some of them favour loose trousers, and blazers of bright silk, and from what lias*been witnessed at iStamford Bridge recently the ground looks likely •to become a sort of English athletic Lido. This' influence must be for good, and it is fairly safe fo predict that men athletes will be more careful to see that their athletic eostuftes, blazers, etc., are clegn and neat when the • are likely to be brought into contact with lady athletes.