BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1926, Page 1

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] PLANTS LIKE HUMANS. LONDON, August 6. A group of great scientists watched Sir Jagadis Bose, of India, at the British Association, prove that plants have hearts, nerves, and muscles, and also that the sap of tho plants is driven in a way similar to the blood of the human beings. Sir J. Bose dropped two dying marigolds, one into other, which is a heart stimulant, and tho other into deadly poison. The first one revived, while tho second drooped and died. Thereafter, by means of amazingly delicate instruments, which were revealed to the world for the first time, the scientists watched a, snapdragon’s fight for life. 'A spot light, representing the plant’s pulse, was thrown on a darkened wall. The snapdragon was placed on some poison. The spot moved towards death. Then, when the snapdragon was practically dead, it was dipped into other. Minutes passed, with tho plant at dcatli grips. Then the spot moved Tifewards and it reVI Vrfvl

Sir Jagadis Bose declared that the mimosa plant was ten times more sensitive than wero .human beings. PORT KEMBLA’S CARGO. LONDON, August 6. The Port Kembla’s salvaged cargo is being landed at Kingston, Jamaica. BABY PRINCE. LONDON, August. G. Princess Mafolda, a daughter of the King of Italy, has given birth to a son. EMPIRE FOOD PRODUCTS. LONDON, August 6. The Empire Marketing Board reserved 10,000 square feet of space in tho London section of the British Industries Fair, in February, 1927, for a display of Empire food products. The Department of Overseas Trade is organising exhibits in connection with which it is at present in communication with tho High Commissioners and other London representatives of the Dominions and Colonies.

y.m.c.a. congress. HELSINGFORS, Aug. 7. Among the resolutions passed at the final session of the Y.M.C. Association’s World Conference, was one which evidenced that the boys and young men are greatly concerned in the sex question. This resolution urges the Y.M.C. \. to impress upon parents as being an obvious duty, the giving of accurate knowledge to children, and to unite with Christian doctors and teachers in finding the best methods of imparting this knowledge in a. Christian setting. Professor Elliott iu summarising the Conference ‘"‘discussions remarked that tlic demand made for information on this question had been more insistent than any other.

An impressive ceremony marked the conclusion of the Congress. Two hundred and fifty hoy delegates assembled with flags around a huge bonfire symbolical of tho fire of friendship. The respective national representatives all threw offerings on it. Australia contributed wool. Asia contributed rice, and Africa cot^lc Twenty-sot the representatives then gave brie! speeches after which the boys lit torches, and gave the following pledge: “I leave this fire with a vision of great Christian fellowship, conscious of differences, but resolved to love.”

The ceremony concluded with the recital of the Lord’s Prayer. MEMENTOES FOR AUSTRALIA. LONDON. Aug. 7. Mrs John Lane, the widow of Mr Nano, the publisher 1 , presented the Sydney Art Gallery with a portrait of Sir Joseph Banks, who was Captain Cook’s companion. The portrait is by Harry Edridge, A.R.A. Mrs Lane lias donated also for the,Mitchell Library, a clock, which Captain Cook took on his voyage around the world. FRANK WOHSLEY MARRIED. LONDON, August 8. Romance has crowned the adventurous career of Commander Frank Worsley who was secretly married at the West End Registry Office to Jean Cummings, a. strikingly handsome and popular young clerk at the New Zealand Records office. GERMAN TRADE RECOVERY. (Received this day 'at 8 a.m.) BERLIN, August 8. The remarkable post war recovery of German trade was demonstrated in the fact that exports for the first six months of 1926 was only 280 million marks lower than the corresponding period of 1913. Exports tor the past, six months totalled 3,768 million marljs and imports 4,232 million marks. It is semi-oflieially pointed out that nlthought the figures indicate a considerable improvement in the economic posi. tion, the population lias not gained an advantage even from the most favourable active trade balance, in view of the obligations and lossess in connection with Versailles Treaty.

REVOLT IN RUSSIA. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, August 8. The “ Bellingske Tidenes’ ” Warsaw correspondent states a military revolt lias broken out in Leningrad and CTonstadt.- The Government Buildings are occupied and a state of siege has been proclaimed. Secret police are ven active. There has been over a thousand arrests in Leningrad in the last few days.