Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 97, 10 August 1943, Page 4

Local and General

First Pair of Telephones The first pair of telephones used in New Zealand lias been presented to the Otago Early Settlers' Museum. Safety Device on Aeroplanes A further development in the use of carbon dioxide gas for protection against lire in aircraft is reported. An impact switch can now be fitted to aeroplanes, which automatically releases compressed gas into the engine compartment of the machine as it crashes, smothering dangerous flames. Saved a Bomber A Hudson bomber was damaged in an attack on an enemy wireless telegraph ship north of Australia and lost height rapidly. One motor cut out. At 300 ft the pilot ordered guns and ammunition to be; jettisoned. At 200 ft the l'ront gunner threw out his second gun. It hit the scconcl and last-surviving propeller and altered its {pitch. Speed, and climb of the plane increased and it made Darwin without further difficulty. New Industry for Maoris A new industry has been developed amongst the Maoris of the. East Coast, the collection of Seewced for commercial purposes. Some tons of seaweed have been collected, dried and dispatched, to the Government authorities in Wellington. This enterprise, which has. proved a profitable one to the natives, has been introduced as a' wartime measure and has been pioneered largely by Miss Cocks Johnston, tutor in the production of fruit and vegetables to the Women's Institute and Women's Division of the Farmers' Union,, and a lecturer at the reefcfrit Health Department's demonstration in Gisborne, at which samples, of three classes of seaweed were exhibited. The types comprised' agar, which is dealt with at the Government laboratory and the. extract is used for canning purposes, paringo, an edible variety because- of its iodine and mineral salts content, and a third, type Avhich provides a valuable fertiliser. The main supplies of seaweed at present are obtained from Wliareponga, near Waipiro Bay and Raukokore 1 Ba,y of Plenty. Miss Cocks Johnston has suggested, that Wainui Beach would be a likely source of'supplies.