MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1923, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION INDIAN TEA SALES. CALCUTTA. Nov. 28. At Hie tea sales, with the exception of pekoes and orange pekoes, which were somewhat quieter, the inarke. was firm with a good demand, patticularlv for useful to clean common broken sorts. Dusts and tannings were in keen demand at improveu rates. ROTHSCHILD'S WILL. LONDON. Nov. 28. The late Nathaniel Charles Rothschild in his will instructed that his funeral he plain and simple, with no oration, or special service, or procession. or display of any kind. lie requested his executors to make sure that lie was dead by requiring his medical attendant to cut a vein or an artery. One clause in the will states that his parcels of books marked “British Entomological Localities” shall, as soon tis practicable after his death, Iks burned unopened. This is explained by tin* theory that there are rare specimens dealt with in these which only are to be found in an extremely eireutiist i-il.i-'J area, and perhaps only in a single meadow, and Rothschild apparently wished to ensure that such specimens should not lie exterminated by persons merely seeking' profit. LONDON’S TUBE RAILWAYS. LONDON, Nov. 29. The London tube railway tunnel accident is raising the wide question of the safety of London’s tubes under the new conditions, particularly in the West End, where they are being subjected to tin* increased pressure of higher buildings, and are surrounded by high pressure water mains, and a network of electrical cables. Although the official account treats the incident lightly, it is obvious that the latest subsidence paused only on the brink of what would have been the most disastrous railway tragedy of modern times. The imagination is appalled by the consideration of-the consequences of London’s main water supply pouring in and filling the deep tunnels during the rush hours, when they are occupied by probably a quarter of a million souls. As the tubes stoop to lower levels between the stations, there would be no escape for thousands.

The Newington tube was a newlv constructed one. and therefore this accident has a peculiar interest for engineers. It- lias always been said that nothing short of the most violent earthquake would cause a tube to ooF" lapse. Now, however, it is evident that there are other factors worthy of consideration.

THE OFFICIAL EXPLANATION i LONDON, Nov. 28.

It is officially explained the collapse of the tube was caused through excavation. The tunnel was being enlarged and the excavation works had come into contact with an old storage well. This caused an inrush ol sand and water into the tunnel, leaving a crater-like empty space beneath tile surface of the road. Being thus robbed of their support, the water and gas mains collapsed. Ihe gas main, in breaking, released the gas, which, mixing with the air in the cavity, formed an explosive which then caused the lire. Inc accident was in iivery way exceptional, and an assuring is given that the public need not entertain any fear regarding the general security of the tub-- railways or the gas mains.

A SHRINE DESECRATED. ROME, Nov. 29. Received this day at 9.45 a.m.) Sardinia is bemoaning the loss of the famous shrine "Our Lady La Devoimire” at Cagliari, which has been violated and robbed of diamonds, pearls and other treasures valued at fifty thousand sterling. A PEASANT’S FIND. Received this dav at 9.45 a.m.) ROME, Nov. 29. Digging in the fields in Parma a peasant struck a metal box anil in the belief that it w as an internal machine he summoned the military who dug it out of the ground and found that it contained over three million gold lire. THE LUXOR TREASURE. * CAIRO, Nov's 9. Mr Carter has discovered eleven miniature oars—for Tutankhamen’s use when he- crossed the dark stream beyond the Elysian fields. These were, laid in the inside of the outer shrine in the King’s tomb. —mm.-—.™.