MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1927, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(Australia./ & N.Z. Cable Associativa.)

SAYALLOAYED A BALLOON. JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 4. A miner hurst here —the first known ease in which anyone lias ever emulated the frog of Aesop’s tables. A single man, lie was a great iavourito with the mining community. Always ready to lend a hand at dances lie was helping to decorate a dance hall hy blowing up tiny balloons. Suddenly lie called to a mate: “I’ve swallowed one of these balloons. .Suppose it won’t- hurt me?” His friend lauglitcd : “How can it?” lie asked. “It’s so small.”

The dance went on. Late at night, the miner complained of sharp internal pains. After three hours’ agony, he collapsed.

“Rushed to hospital, lie was operated on. hut died a few minutes after being removed from Hie operation table. The inquest disclosed that gases generated in the stomach and bowels had blown up Hie balloon. Then it had burst, rupturing the stomach and intestines. GHOST SHIP. LONDON. Nov. 4.

The “ghost-ship,” a superstition prevalent among Irish fishermen,, undoubtedly saved many lives on Tnnisliofln Island in the hurricane which wrought devastation among the fishing fleets of the west coast of Ireland. The crew of one vessel relates that a phantom ship followed them all the night and did not answer any call. Accordingly they concluded it was a “ghost ship” sent to warn them of disaster. They hastily returned to Tnnisbotln and beached there ship just before the gale overwhelmed Hie other vessels.

COMMONWEALTH LINE. LONDON, Nov. 12

Shipping circles followed the Federal Tfon.se dehate on tlie Commonwealth Isi tie closely and welcome the result. They are now eager to know the method of selling the ships, whether hy tender or otherwise. It lias been pointed out that though previous prohibitive! conditions of sale wore removed. it will still not be plain sailing for any purchaser. In view of Labour’s opposition to the sale, fears are expected regarding the attitude of some unions, and the suggestion made that when the ships nro transferred to the British Register serious Labour troubles may he encountered, the ships, being singled out from all others and declared “black” owing to reversion to British wages conditions instead of Australian.

ACROSS ATLANTIC PROPOSAL. BERLIN. Nov. 12. Boekk, a Hamburg shipbuilder has invented a torpedo-like vessel which lie claims is capable of crossing the 'Atlantic in forty hours. It is only thirty feet long, and four feet wide, and can carry ten passengers and a ere# - of four. A trial trip from Hamburg to Cape Finisterre will be made in the Spring. DIN SENTENCED. LONDON, Nov. 12. Dix. (the poacher) was sentenced to fifteen years’ penal servitude. The Judge referred to various degrees of manslaughter and added he desired by the sentence to protect others in the same, position as the murdered man. AIR INQUEST. LONDON Nov 13. The inquest on the East Grimstead air crash showed the pilot lost liis way owing to a deranged c-ompass and in trying to return to Croydon he ran short of petrol. The pilot and his companion had a dramatic telephone talk in mid-air. The former insisted that the latter jump first and gave him careful instructions for the use of the parachute. He then tried to drop off himself and as a result the parachute had. hot time to 'opfcru