NEWS BY MAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1927, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL

mooxltght bale. BRUSSELS, Mav 30.

•Sir George Grahame. the British

Ambassador in Brussels, gave a dinner last night in the brilliantly decorated saloon of the Embassy in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Brabant (the Crown Prince and his wife). Princess Marie Jose and Prince Charles of Belgium (daughter and younger son of the King of Belgians).

I The dinner was followed by a ball. At midnight the lights were turned out and dancing continued in the ball-room, flooded with imitation moonlight, while artificial snowflakes fell from the ceiling. The guests were provided with artificial snowballs with which they bombarded one another. The orchestra, which was accompanied by a carillon, had been placed in one of the galleries.

SKA Tv E AT THE WHEEI. MAFEKTXG. Juno 5. A local resident had a somewhat alarming experience with a snake the other night. Just as lie was about to enter his car, which was parked outside tiis me in the heart of the. town, he had . forthought to switch on the dash-

light and saw a four-foot pug adder curled up beneath the steering wheel. iA stout stick quickly dispatched the reptile.

It is surniised that the snake found its way into the car on the previous day when the owner was out in the veld on a shooting trip, and had remained hidden somewhere in the car throughout the night and all next day.

FURS MADE IX PRISON. PARIS, .Tune 5. Parisienne.s were surprised and shocked yesterday when they learned that some of the furs they wear, made from raKbits and hares, to adorn their dresses and clothes are prepared and put together in prison.

The French Union rf Master Furriers has just published a (inrv manifesto against the furs made in prison. It appears that the Poissv Convict Prison is granted a contract for furmaking at a price which defies competiton by free labour. To-day all the rabbit and 'hare skinfurriers are to hold an indignation meeting at their headquarters to protest. against this invasion.

MONKEY ISLAND. VIENNA. June b.

The Hungarian Government has consented to the construction of a special island upon the lake in Budapest. Zoological Gardens for forty cynocephnlous apes from Abyssinia, purchased by Dr X'emesnagv. a distinguished pupil of Professor Voronoff. who established himself at Budapest two years ago as a rejuvenation specialist. He lias achieved extraordinary successes. especially with an infirm soldier, aged 78. who is now .learning boxing and tennis, dances, swims and rides horseback.

Monkey Island is being rapidly builtup opposite lnii.si elegant coffee-houses and wine kiosks in Budapest’s principal park, of which the Zoo iorms part.

The importation of apes is expensive, and the mortality in cages is proving very serious. Only glands from perfectly henllhy monkeys are suitable for the delicate translation operation upon which the \ oroiviff svstom denends.