BREEZES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 26 January 1932, Page 4

BREEZES

Wasted Energy. Teacher: “Can you give me an example of wasted energy, Donald!” Donald: “Yes. Telling a hair-raising story to a bald-headed man.” * * * * The Same Thing.

A country doctor, on being called hur- - riedly to a patient’s house, found the man in an unconscious condition, evidently from the effects of some powerful drug. “Ilow did this happen?” he demanded, after working hard for an hour or more at restorative measures. “Did you giro him a dose of the powdci I left?” “Yes, sir,” responded the tearful wife. “As much as would go on a sixpence, and no more?” “Well, sir,” replied the woman, ‘ we couldn’t find a sixpence, so I used six pennies.” * * * * Centuries Old Cypress. The oldest known tree is estimated at somewhere between 5000 and 0000 years old, and was “going strong' a few vears ago. This is the famous veteran'sypress of Santa Maria del rule, in Mexico, on which Humboldt carved his name over a hundred years ago. The figures mentioned were calculated by Professor Asa Gray, who examined another cypress, the circumference ot which was 1-1 feet, and taking the number of concentric rings, arrived at is age as about 070 years, the growth ot this kind of tree being exceptionally slow. The cypress at Santa Maria del Tulo is, however, 30 feet m cireunueience. # # * *

Mining His Own Coal. Mr Harry Moorhousc, the oldest miner in Britain, has now, at- the age of »-, decided to retire, and when he has go sufficient coal out of his mine tor his own personal use, he will cease working Mr Moorhousc, whose home is at Holm firth, near Huddersfield, has been working at the mine, which is a straight tunnel 1000 yards long, running into a hill ever since lie was six years of age, and 40 years ago the then owners ga\ e him the right to work it for as long as he cared, in recognition of the services he had rendered them. For many years he has been the sole coal getter, trolley boy and salesman, In spite.of his age he has been in tlic pit for a few hours cverv day until recently, and he has stored about 60 tons of coal for use in his retirement. '

Pugnacious Baby Snakes. 'There was an interesting, if possibly somewhat unwelcome, addition to the zoo population recently when a Bussell’s viper, which had just arrived in England from India, gave birth to over 100 young. The Russell’s viper is one of the most dangerous snakes in the world, not only because it is very poisonous, but also , because of its fierceness. Indian snake-charmers, who think nothing of handling cobras, won t touch the Russell’s viper. The young of the species are both active and aggressive, and though the} are little larger than earthworms when newly born, they will bite if the} get a chance—and the bite will produce distinctly unpleasant results. There arc other species of snakes whose young aie -just as pugnacious. The baby ringhals, or Bpitting'cobra, .1 South AM™, s. s up with expanded hood and tries to bite as soon as it is born. * * * * Tlie New Guard.

There was one important result from the mobilisation of portion of a division of the New Guard to go to Coba to fight bush and grass fires, says tlic Sydney correspondent of ‘‘ T > lo " rg This was the revelation that the '<- Guard does not consist of men m coa on” occupations, but is a nuxtuie o . workers. It was obvious that it inch ded a largo proportion of artists a labourers. It was truly a dcmociatic enterprise. Homebush a western suburb eight miles from Sydnej, 1 <■ privilege of providing the men on th historic occasion. The men were under the control of former soldiers. A though they were not put throng ' military drill they were promp >t\y amen able to discipline. Theie " as i„g,” but the spirit ot good-tellou ship that demands obedience to rational o “ «.,o gcneraubcnon. jjva.'ea; No members of the New Ou.ud nil reive any pay. Their Mrv.cei » ‘ “ is offered wholeheartedly. Mi Steva . M.ILR., who has challenged Mr Lang o withdraw his alleged seat-waimer, Guilder, from the Reid seat, and pjolit him (Mr Stewart) for it, made tlm rip to Co bar possible. A special train had been sought, but, it is said, k refused. Mr Stewart thereupon made available six of his motor buses with two drivers for each, so that < i jo-fit bo continuous. The Transport Board sought to prevent the buses fiom operating, but an appeal to the chief o the criminal investigation branch, uho impressed the commissioner of po* (Mr Childs) procured freedom from interference.