NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1929, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

BEFORE PARENTS’ EYES. Two children were burned to death in a shed at Barton-on-Humber, Lincolnshire. The children’s parents, who were among the crowd attracted to the scene, had the agonising experience of having to stand by without being able to do anything. The two children were Jarvis Applcyard (3)) and Kate Chapman (2.V). Their bodies were found in a corner of the. slied. It is thought that the children went to the shed to play and that they must have taken "some matches with .them. The fire brigade could not get anywhere near the shed, so firece were the flames. Only ten minutes elapsed between the time the alarm was raised and the subduing of the fire. MARRIAGE CLUBS. Birmingham girls can now become engaged and married on the “easy payment ” system—at least so far as the symbols of these blessed states are concerned. For this they have to thank the jewellery clubs which have been formed in many factories of the Midland metropolis., The girls themselves form and run these clubs. Afcmbership is usually limited to girls who have reached "the “walking out” stage. Each girl pays into the funds a fixed weekly sum, and. at the end off the, week lots are drawii and the lucky maiden receives a chit which entitles her to choose a ring at a local jeweller’s. Each girt in turn eventually gets g ring, but it is in the lap of the goas whether she receives it next week or next year....... • GAGGED HERSELF. Found bound and gagged on a bed, Gladys Hooker, a servant, of Alilton Street, Doncaster, told the police that two men entered the shop where she is employed by Mrs”Millies, and after binding and gagging her in a bedS.Dom, 'ransacked the premises a-nd stole £7. The girl now admits that she concocted the story, tied herself up. and.stole the money. It was stated that a constable found her in the bedroom bound by a clothes line to a rocking chair, and gagged with a large handkerchief. The girl gave a description of her alleged assailants. Subsequently she confessed she spent the money on lien -sweetheart. She was bound over.

FINGERPRINTS 500 YEARS OLD. Dr Fernando Perez, the Argentine Ambassador to Italy,-who has for many years been experimenting on a process to establish the authenticity of Old Masters, has traced finger-prints on live paintings -in ‘the Royal. Museum at Venice—two of.. Giovanni Bellini (15th. cenutry), two of Cima da Coneqliano (15th. century).,Land one of Francesco Bisso.lo 16 ili.,i century). The fingerprints on the >,Bellini pictures are identical. -Tlie scientific.section of the •Venice police lips checked the discovery by its own tineifiods and confirmed the exactness of the results. Dr Perez’s process, which is being kept secret, lias aroused very keen- interest in officiat a,rt.istic and scientific circles, as it is hoped it will serve to set the authenticity of Old Masters beyond dispute. THE FATAL OVERCOAT. “It dees seem a dangerous thing from a layman’s point of view for a mail, doing tips work to wear a light overcoat unbuttoned, with the ropes swirling about the deck as they do. This man, had, however, been doing this type of work for 30 years, and was probably used to it,” said Dr R. L. Guthrie, the East London coroner, at an inquest at Pop:nr on John Simms, a stevedore,.of Bartley Street, Silvertown. It was said that Simms was working on the s.s. Ncrtonia at the Albert Docks when bis coat became entangled in a rope runner and lie was caught .in the winch. A verdict of accidentaldeath was recorded. SIX YXAKL’ S'LENT HONEYMOON. A novel sect of honeymoon tour is to be made ,:.y .> South African couple. Wish ug vo be known as “ The Silent Strangers,;’,-they have set out from Johannesburg on a six years’ honeymoon of silence. r lhe time will, be spent touring,., the world on push cycles. ■ • They will speak to nobody except each other. V lien they come to hotels they will present the host with a letter informing him that they are pledged to silenyc and asking for accommodation and menu cards. “ Keeping silent tor six years is very difficult,” the husband admitted in an interview, “ and it lias never been done before, 1 think, in the history of the world. That is why we are doing it—and because of the fun of it. We shall speak to each other, 'but to no one else.” Their itinerary is H'rom Johannesburg to Beirn, thence to London, and -across the Atlantic to America. They will pedal across America, Australia, and Asia.