MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1927, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

NEW GOWNS AT OLYMPIA. LONDON, Sept. 7.

Star spangled gowns are a feature of the Fashions Exhibition at the Olympia.

They are wonderfully trimmed with diamente, and some dresses have thousands of diamond studs pressed into the folds.

Waistlines are higher and skirts are longer this season. The majority of frocks have lost tho boyish look they had in the past, even the divided trouser-skirts have a distinctly feminine appearance. Among the fashion freaks are stockings with ornamented coloured heels, evening frocks without a hack, and peacock dresses with panniers and bustles.

EXPLOITING THE SHARK. LONDON. Sept. 0. An American, Dr Ehrcnroich, lias stated that after 22 years’ research he has perfected a secret process for curing shark hide. With the object of exploiting shark products he has formed a company, which lias acquired the .steamer r.stor (2000 tons), formerly a- yacht belonging to M. Goulet, a wealthy champagne maker. The Istar has been converted into a floating factory for the treatment of sharks, and will be used in conjunction with the former moat factory at Oarnnvon (TV.A.) to develop the industry, in which £300,000 has been invested. Only Australian labour, which will be trained aboard tho Tlsar, will be used!. Australia!!), material employed will include nine solution for tanning. Dr Elirenreieh claims that the venture will revolutionise the lea: dustry. Shark hide produces the finest quality leather which can he dyed artistically. Portions of the intestines can ho used to make iho daintiest gloves, while one sjiecies of leather is so close-ly-sealed as to ho bullet, proof.

There is no fear of a shortage of sharks, Dr Elirenreieh says, as if is officially estimated that, 1.000,000 are horn daily, and that 5.000.000 pass (he Great Barrier Reef daily.

FLO ATI NO SANATORIUM. PARTS. Sept. 6. Claiming that sen air is conducive to the cure !r-f tuberculosis, as it “contains only half the number of microbes of air over land, and is more easily penetrated bv ultra-violet rays." three French doctors are organising a floating sanatorium. A sailing ship is being specially equipped at Havre for long deep-sea cruise. It has airy and comfortable cabins, and sun and promenade decks. The ship is due to leave in November for the Azores. Canaries, and West. ‘lndies.

TREATMENT BV ELECTRICITY. LONDON. Sept. 6. Tfc is reported from Belgrade that after being apparently dead for nine days, Col. Petrovitefi, a Serbian aviator, lias been restored to life by tho application of electricity. Petrovitch crashed when flying over the Austrian Alps. The wreckage of his machine was discovered two days late, and his apparently dead body was taken to the nearest village. Although his heart had apparently stopped beating, and respiration seemed to have ceased, no signs of decomposition were apparent. At first this was accounted for by tho fact that he was believed to have frozen to death.

Doctors continued to work on him. and finally treatment by electricity, it is declared, restored animation. Ho is now gradually regaining consciousness.

HUGE AIR FLEET. LONDON, Sept. U. The “ Daily Mail's ” aviation cone, spendent says that the Russian Soviet is plotting for a “ titan tic future struggle in which a high speed war will he fought, and won mainly in the air.” It is further stated that the Soviet is aiming at tho creation of a military fleet-oi 3090 ’planes hacked by numbers of convertible commercial ’planes, uhich are being buii’t in closely-guarded national factories. Tho Soviet is establishing eight military air bases, and re-opening and building new poison-gas factories, which arc manufacturing more varieties and volume than any other country in the world. Many delays, it is added, have taken place in the construction of these ’planes, but tho French estimate that the Soviet possesses more than a thousand machines, apart from leserves. The Society of Friends of the Red Air Fleet, consisting of three million members, has been established to raise funds for supplying the army with 200 machines. Workers are giving additional sums after being fed with propaganda declaring that Russia’s future lies in the air. Flying, it is said, will’ enable Russia, to carryout universal revolution. If used relentlessly, it is said, that the air fleet will be invincible, WHEN RAIN IS COMING. LONDON, Sept; 6. Wiltshire folk are hacking Sarah. “The Cow with the Crumpled Knees,” against tho world’s meteorological experts a.s a weather forecaster. Sarah knows nothing of Atlantic depressions but she does know when it is going to rain The clue lies in her rheumatic knees which ore normal when it is fine, but swell and knock together at the slightest hint of rain. A special committee investigated Sarah recently. She was grazing like any other cow in her paddock in the sunshine. Later in the day her knees began to swell, and she developed a | walk like tlie Charleston. Finally slic collapsed and lay on her hack shaking her knees helplessly at the heavens Sure enough a downpour followed. Next day, with the rain gone, Sarah was quite normal. “Sarah’s knees never lie.” says her owner.