NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1949, 8 March 1919, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES

The New York Evening Sun, in an editorial, says: “Lord Jellicoe's mission is one of great importance for the future, for it will unify the British colonial navies for operation in the Pacific, thus creating a single fleet of a great power. The Pacific will not become a Japanese ocean while British naval power lasts. It is a development which does not carry a menace to America. It will really mean co-operation with us.” A life of slothful ease, a life of that peace which springs merely from lack of desire or of power to strive after great things, is as little worthy of a nation as of an individual We do hot admire the man of timid peace, we admire the man who embodies vigorous effort, the man who never wrongs his neighbour, who is prompt, to help a friend, but who has those virile qualities necessary to win (he stern strife of actual life. —Theodore Roosevelt.

A correspondent quotes an interesting (able, published in an American paper, during September, in which the writer lakes (he year when hern, year elected or stalled to rule, number of years ruling, and years old of Presidenl Wilson, (be President of France, (he Czar of Russia, the Emperor of Japan, and the Kings of England, Belgium, Italy and Serbia, and by totalling up the figures in" each case, gets 3836, which, when divided by two, gives 1018 —the year when the war will end. The result is certainly astonishing, especially as the prophecy has been fulfilled.

A pathetic sight as the seemingly never-ending stream of returned soldiers descended the gangway from the Zealandic was the number of men wearing artificial limbs (says the Evening Post). They comprised a hundred or more, being the largest contingent of men who have lost one or mure limbs in their country’s service who have yet returned to New Zealand. They were mostly men who had lost a leg or an arm, but one man had lost both legs below the knees. All having been fitted with special limbs in England, they were iu most cases able to get

about quite well, and in the most cheerful manner possible came bravely down the gangway, carrying in many cases spare limbs over their shoulders. These men made a great impression on the crowd who cheered them heartily.

Surrounded by an ever-increas-ing list of dangers and precautions, the public, blessed with a sense of humour, is (says . the Melbourne Age) beginning to get reckless about influenza, and to say unpleasant things about new theorists who strived to climb into prominence by virtue of some second-hand quotation, torn from its context, from the views of some comprehensive medical authority, whose chief figjlt is, apparently, that he was born too late, to be of practical service to humanity. Questioned yesterday as to the worth of an anonymous expert’s opinion that there is a greater “flu” danger in the hand as a carrier than in the month and nose combined, medical authority was disinclined to discuss lurther “fads,” no matter what their alleged source. Although it is admitted that “from birth to death these universal tools, our hands, go to our mouths incessantly,” it is pointed out that only in first and second childhood do Ihe hands go incessantly to the mouth in a manner calculated to promiscuously lodgegerms there. The average infant, however, it is pointed out, even though it may more or less constantly suck its finger, is peculiarly free, according' to statistics, from influenza; whilst the average centenarian has a tenacity of purpose which, according to statistics again, makes the “flu” germ look foolish. On the whole,-medical authority inclines to the belief that persons may continue to shake hands with reasonable impunity.

There is considerable diversity in opinion amongst civil engineers as to the most suitable material Impermanent road construction concrete or tar macadam. The Auckland City Council has definitely pinned its faith to concrete roads for city traffic, and has decided to go in for Hie best concrete roads is possible for it to get. The City Council, however, is fortunate in being able to procure excellent mateiials for its purpose close to hand. Gravel concrete has been put to one side, and broken metal, broken metal screenings, and sharp washed sand are the materials used. These are laid to a thickness of eight inches, and is not carpeted at present with tar. Some lengths of road have been down in these materials for nearly twelve months, and so far show practically no signs of wear. It is not intended to carpet them with tar until it becomes necessary, as it was desired to save this cost as long as possible. Where gravel concrete has been Used it has been found necessary to lay the carpet of tar after a comparatively short time. The cost works out at about 12s per square yard. The proportions used are one part cement, tv>o parts tine aggregate, and three and a-half parts coarse aggregate.