NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1922, Page 3

NEWS BY MAIL.

INVENTOR ’8 MODESTY. PARIS, Nov. 20 Unusual modesty lias iust been shown by the celebrated French inventor, Professor Branly, who discovered the use of coherer in wireless telegraphy, in refusing the annual grant of £BOO which ■was to have been voted to him by the French Chamber.

When lie heard that a resolution to Ibis effect had been nut before the Budget Commission he immediately

wrote asking for it to he cancelled. “Snell an honour,” lie wrote, “has been gianted previously only to men like the great scientist Pasteur ami the poet Lamartine. lam not worthy to rank with such great names, and so 1 would prefer to rely merely on my modest private resources.”

HOOK FOR BANK NOTES. LONDON, Nov. 20. When Frederick Sydenham, 71, was sentenced at London Sessions to 18 months’ imprisonment for stealing £75 front one bank and attempting to steal £SO from another, it was stated that in his possession was found a novel means of “drawing” money from a bank. ft consisted of an umbrella nb, very

sharp at one end and hooked. To show the judge, Sir Robert Wallace, how it worked, a detective hooked some papers on the bench and drew them towaids the witness box. “Very ingenious,” commented Sir Robert. It was stated that a bank easluer noticed a bundle of 50 £1 Treasury notes “creeping” towards Sydenham and another man. He grabbed the bundle and the two men ran away, but Sydenham was afterwards aircsted. 25 CWT. BULLOCK. NORWICH, Nov .20. The farmers at Norwich Christmas Cattle Show to-day have given thenattention chiefly to anmials. They have never esen a) prettier beast than Major Monson’s champion Angus steer Julian of Basildon, or a heavier than Little Ben, the 27fewt. South Devon. The former spends most of his time lying down chewing drowsily in a specially railed stall. He will start his journey to Birmingham early next week. The other prefers standing, and thus produce si some awe in the minds of timid visitors, but a more goodhumoured bullock never chewed a mangold. His only vice is a perpetual hunger. No sooner has he beeii given one basket of cut roots than ha is turning his huge head inquiringly for another, and of this form of food he consumes about four bushels daily, in addition to corn, cake, and chaff. A few weeks ago his weight exceeded 28cwt., but he lost a little during the cold weather, and liis journey from Great Yarmouth to the show did not help him. The float in which ho was toi ride to Norwich behind a pair of horses did) not get for before the, bottom gave way, and little ißen had to walk 5\ miles) to the nearest station. Mf Thomas Cook, his owner, has already received some big offers from butchers who want him.