NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1925, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL.

i'3,000,000 GIFT. NEYY’ YORK, December 8. “ I am now more than 70 years old and feel 1 should like to see the results from the money within my remaining years.” In these simple words Air George Eastman, of Rochester, announces tlio distribution among various educational institutions, of stock in the Kastman Kodak Company Having a minimum' valuation of £300,000,000. The actual valuation is believed considerably to exceed this figure. The University of Rochester receives £1,700,000, Alassachusetts Institute of Technology £900,000, while £400,000 is divided equally between the Hampton Institute and the Tuskegce Institute. On a previous occasion Air Eastman gave half his holdings to various institutions. The present distribution, lie says, represents the bulk of the rest, “ for I am retaining only sufficient to participate effectively in the management of tho company.”

THOUGHT READING. [PROFESSOR- GILBERT MURRAY’S TESTS. LONDON, November 15. .Much interest Jias been aroused by experiments in thought-transference carried out recently at Air Gerald Balfour’s . house at YY’oking, Surrey, in the presence of his brother, Lord Balfour, Professor Gilbert Murray, and members of the Society of Physical Research. lit Hie experiments Professor Murray waited in the dining-room of the house while the others were present in tli drawing-room, which is separated from the dining-room by a large hall, chose a subject which was then spoken of once quietly. Professor Murray was afterwards asked to come into the drawing-room and say what thoughtsubject was chosen, while his hand was lightly held by Air J. G. Piddington, president of the society. In 10 successive tests of this kind the professor was successful in' 5 in describing accurately the chosen subject. In one, those in tho drawing-roonij chose tlio “subject” of Queen Victoria learning that she was to succeed to the Throne. When he came into the room Professor Murray, said: “Itis something in a book. No! It is a picture. It is the news coming to Queen Victoria that she is Queen.” NOT SPIRTITUALISM Air Gerald Balfour said to a reporter yesterday : “ The thought-transfer-ences as they occurred at my house cannot bo accounted for by wliat we know at present. I have no doubt that some unknown factor was at work enabling communication to bo made between tlio minds of two living persons. Thus, there is a difference from ‘spiritualism’ involving communication by tho living with the dead.”

Professor Alurricy’s own theory is that his ordinary powers become sup-ler-sensttive,, so That he gets direct knowledge of another person’s thought, lie is sceptical about the play of an unknown power. Dr C. .Delisle Burns, lecturer in logic and philosophy at the University of London, said last night: “Knowing Professor Murray I believe his perceptions are what wo might say ‘refined enough’ to have been successful at the tests. There is no reason to believe that any ‘new’ power was used by him. There may be others with similar ‘refined’ perception.

POPULAR PAUPERISM. LONDON, November 14. Giving evidence yesterday before the Royal Commission on Lunacy at Old Palace Yard, Westminster, the Rev. P. S. G. Propcrt, chairman of the Fulham Board of Guardians and president of the Association of Poor Law Unions, said that the Poor Law was becoming tremendously popular, and that Pom Law hospitals were becoming remarkable. institutions and the stigma was passing away. The Chairman, Mr 11. P. Maemillen, K.O. : f don’t know that we desire to encourage that. Mr. Pro port adds that in his opinion there were very few people to whom it was now distasteful to go to a Poor Law institution. Earl Russel, a member of the Commission : The stigma still exists, though. Mr Propcrt: 1 live among the people and I say that this feeling of stigma is passing away. Air Maemillen: I hope that does not mean that the independence of the nation is being sapped. Mr Propcrt said the words “pauper” and “lunatic” were becoming unpopular, and he would not object to the words “rate-aided” being used instead of “pauper” and “mental institution” instead of “lunatic asylum.”

FORTUNE TOO LATE. VIENNA, November 14. A story of the news of good fortune arriving too late to avert a tragedy conies from the town of Judendorf, in Stvria. .... Believing himself to lie ruined by gambling. Captain Adams decided with his wife to kill themselves and their two children at there villa there. The servants were sent to the theatre and returned late at night to find the the husband poisoned and his wife, son, and daughter shot dead. The baby, Peter, was sleeping unharmed. The Danners were of English origin. The captain’s father was General Danners. an Australian officer. who died leniently. A formal notification of an inheritance of £53,000, released by the English courts after o long dispute, arrived at the villa for the captain the dav after the tragedy.

FIGHT FOR LIFE. LONDON, December 9. Claude Smith, 27, a steeplejack, was killed through falling yesterday from a chimney at the Leeds Fireclay Company’s works at New Wort ley. Smith and another steeplejack were working on the coping at the chimney top when it gave way, and he fell L">o feet into a paved yard. His companion managed to grasp the edge of the breaking chimney summit, and hang on. Bricks kept .crumbling beneath his hands, but he secured a fresh hold each time, and working his way round to a ladder, descended to safety. ~ .. ... ... .