NEWS FROM ALL QUARTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1929, Page 8

NEWS FROM ALL QUARTERS

DOCTORS, PLEASE NOTE. Airs Betsy Raynor, of Louth, who was christened on Lhc day of her hirth because it was feared that she would not live, recently celebrated her fOOtli biithdav. She received a message of congratulation from the King. THE EAR. OF GENIUS. Not the least interesting exhibit in the Mozart Museum at Salzburg, where a special exhibition has been arranged in connection with the Mozart Festival this .summer is a drawing of the great composer’s ear. This is seen to bo a decidedly unusual organ as compared with the normal ear, the orifice appearing almost entirely closed. In fhe Mozart house at Salzburg are also preserved the master’s spinet—it was a spinet on which he composed, at four years old, a concerto too difficult for anyone to play—and his grand pianoforte, one .of the earliest of its kind. A.IK WAR ON WORMS. Since 1909 the bud worm has robbed Canada of millions of pounds. Every means known to science are being tried in an effort to exterminate the pest. I no most promising method is the dusting of forests by aeroplane, and experiments on a big scale are now being conducted on lines similar to those employed in connection with cotton in the united (States. The experiments inaero plots of different types of timber witii different strengths of enlciui: arsenate, and if they prove successful they v. ill mean a. tremendous eeonomi saving to the Dominion. ARTIFICIAL LIMBS COLLECTING. Collecting as a hobby is now at its height. Tin openers, valuable antiques, postage stamps, rare books and even altars are among the items sought. Tilt oddest collector in England at the moment is probably a young actor who seeks artificial limbs. He has at Ilia ivondou flat ail amazing collection oi these in all sizes and shapes, “Whenever I see an artificial limb anywhere I am urged to buy it,” be said in an interview with a “Sunday Chronicle” representative. “Consequently J am offered all kinds of them. As it is, at least haif my earnings go towards m\ hobby, but I don’t begrudge it in the least, for I am assured my collection ii. one of the best in the noi lvt. SILK FROM CABjbaujms. Although most artificial silk fabric if made of wood pulp, it can also be mack from cabbages, bananas, or any otliei vegetable matter from which cclluloi.se is obtained. People can usually tell Hie difference between pure and artificial silk by squeezing it up in tlieii bands. Real silk, unless weighed with chemicals, feels warm to the touch and will not crease. Artificial silk feels cold and slippery, besides being too lustrous.. Its creasing propensity is one of the tneatest problems for manufacturers, and many experiments arc being made to cope with the difficulty, and save women the trouble of having to iron an artificial silk frock each time it has been worn. POINT P.C.’s ARM AS HAT RACK. A man who used a point duty constable’s ouUstretched arm as a bat rack, was before the Brighton magistrate accused of obstruction. He was William Wool (70), a retired county court officer. Air Bishop, prosecuting, said the previous afternoon the traffic constable at the bottom of West Street was signalling with his arm, the electric signal having been smashed by a motor car. Wool came up stood behind the constable, and tried to engage him in conversation. The constable told him to go away. Wool then titok off his bowler hat and put it on the Constable’s arm. “It made the constable look very ridiculous.” said Air Bishop. The magistrate ordered the man to pay 245. costs DANE HOLES. At Abbey Wood, near Plumstoad are three vertical shafts, (iOl'L deep, locally called Dime (or Dane) Holes, concerning the origin of which many contradictory theories have been advanci ( Oho is fliat they are merely old chalk nils. Rut the popular view is that they were constructed centuries ago as r,laces of refuge from Danish invaders. In confirmation of lids it is pointed mu that they branch ofi at the boliom into lateral chambers cut in the chalk, wherein haw been Inund woollen tables and broken pottery, plain proof of human habitation. Similar shafts terminating in lateral chambers ore found eicswhere in - the lower Thames Valley, and it seems at least possible that the popular view of their origin is the true mi'e. PIANISTS’ HAND STRETCHES. The dillicit! ly of sime of Liszt’s comp, silions for the piano is perhaps explained in part by the tact that bis own hand-stretch was unusually big.

lie could easily stretch an octave with his himihs and first finder. Rubenstein also had a phenomenal stretch. On the other hand there are well-known pianists u>-day wiio.se natural stretch between thumb and little linger is barely an octave, yet by the constant and careful practice and by the wise choice of music for performance, they have established themselves in the estimation of audience-*, who are rarely an are if the handicap. A HISTORICAL BELL. All Hallows Church, Tottenham, pus•losses an itnnsiiaily line peal of hjls, 1,0 one of which,' known as the Saints deli, a curious story attaches. It was the aiarm hell of the garrison of Quota a when that fortress was in possession of Hie French, and tradition says that when General Townsend, who sue needed Wolff as commander of the British forces in Canada was investing iho city and negotiations were in progress tor its surrender, two Jtrirish tailors climbed up over the walls under cover of darkness and walked off with it. All Hallows is said to June been founded by King David of Scotland early in the twelfth century. A GREAT BUFFALO FLITTING. Over six thousand buffalo have been •shifted from the .National Park at Aainwright, Alberta, to Wood Buffalo Park in the north-west territories, and a movement begun in 1925 lias ended 'successfully. The migration was decided upon in view of the fact that the capacity of the Wainwright Park was taxed beyond its limits owing to the rapid increase in tlie progeny ol the little herd by the preservation of which twenty years ago- the monafclis of the plains were saved from extinction. They deserved certainly a ,letter fate than ignominious disappearance for few animals have been so useful to mail. To the Indians and early settlers its meat was food, its hide provided them with covering and clothes and tents and boats, and its horns, hair, hoofs and hones furnished many articles of use and adornment.