WORLD-WIDE NOTES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 432, 20 January 1912, Page 2

WORLD-WIDE NOTES.

UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE OF A MAN WITH A WOODEN LEG.

An eye-witness tells me (writes "Looker-On.") of what proved an amusing incident to a large crowd of spectators,, though it was anything but amusing to the person concerned. It nseems that a woodenlegged hawker was pushing a handcart before him, and unfortunately, when proceeding along a busy thoroughfare, failed to observe a manhole leading to the main sewer, the presence of which was brought rudely to his knowledge by his artificial limb slipping into one of the openings of the grid. He tried time after time to recover his balance, but the wooden stump was so wedged that he could not withdraw it. A small crowd speedily collected, and there were not wanting willing helpers, who worked assiduously but without effect. One gentleman finally suggested that he should procure a saw and cut the timber leg in two ; but this w T as tabooed, because as one observed, "How was the bloke to walk with his leg shortened ?" By this time the crowd had grown to large proportions, and there was great excitement in the neighbourhood, which increased as a Corporation workman, who had been summoned to the spot, decided he would descend another manhole and see if he could prize the limb up. this he was after a time able* to accomplish, and the unhappy cripple was once more free. A similar incident occurred a short time ago in one of our churches, though in this case it was a young lady whose high heel caught in the grating of the heating apparatus. SUSPENDED CRADLES IN CHIL DREN'S HOMES. The cradles or beds of the nursery of an up-to-date hospital for children are*.hungi from the ceiling by stout rods. Many factors were considered in evolving such a unique and ingenious arrangement, and tha result is a substitute for ordinary cribs that is both sanitary and convenient. The( cradles are nothing more than heavy wire baskets with strong iron frames. The arrangement requires considerably less than half the space that would be occupied by beds, while the floor beneath is left deal as a playground for the older babies. The work of the nurses is materially lightened, as they do not have to stoop to care for their charges while in the cribs, there are no covered spaces on the floor for the collection of dust, and the slightest movement of the occupant of a cradle causes it to sway in a manner calculated to soothe a restless infant. GIVING THE BOYS A CHANCE. Prebendary Carlile, th© well-knowr founder of the Church Army, has organised an extensive scheme foi the emigration to Australia of lads with no future! in England. His proposal is that five thousand lads should be taken by the organisation and placed in a position to hell themselves among the hospitable settlers of Australia. A great demand has recently arisen in Australia foi strong, healthy people, to develop its resources and supply the need ol labour on its farm lands and other industries. Some time since the Church Army formed a Boys' Aid Department, with the object of getting into touch with youths and boys, who run wild about the streets with no future, or, at best, casual ;mployment v leading to unemployability and destitution. The main object of this department was to introduce these lads to clubs, brigades, scouts, and similar organisations for their benefit, and to get employment for them when they left school in )roper trades, instead of in "blindilley" occupations. Recently the department has adopted the principle )f emigration to Australia for lads over sixteen of good character who ire not in trades, and have only the prospect of casual employment. Each boy will be provided with a proper sit, and each party will be accompanied by an official, and on landing will be received by the Church Army's representatives. The boys will be provided with good situations on arriving, and will not be lost sight of afterwards. Each lad will cost £lO, and the Church Army is hoping to raise £50,000 to take five thousand boys away from the temptations of the streets and the effects of casual labour. RUBBER FROM BANANAS. A cloudy emulsion pressed from the green fruit of the Martinique banana has been found to contain 10 per cent, of rubber, equivalent to 50 per cent, of the dry weight of the jxpressed juice. Analysis showed that'the green banana skins contain as) much as 20 per cent, of rubber, ivhile the dried skins yielded 7 per cent, of rubber, and 7 per cent, of wax, resin and chlorophyll. Some varieties are reported to be even richer in rubber than the Martinique banana. Extraction seems to' 1 offer no special difficulties, and it is predicted that rubber from banana skin may become a commercial success in the near future. Dr. Henry Fraser, director of tha Straits Settlements Institute ol Medical Research, has offered the theory that beriberi is due to a lack of phosphorus in the food. The steam milling rice process, he says is at fault, because the high polish which produces the best quality of white rice l removes the phosphorus contained in the pericarp—the seed vessel of a plant. He has found that