GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2452, 11 July 1922, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

On January 25, Mrs Hardcastle, of Prestwich, wife of Councillor Gilbert L. Hardcastle, of Manchester City Council, lost a necklace of 103 pearls, valued at about £2,000.

It was found lying in a busy street by a young married man, who, regarding them as an ordinary string of beads of no value, took it home to amuse his child, and at: intervals lent it to friends to attend local dances. It was only when he saw notices advertising the loss that he got into touch with the Manchester police and received a reward of £SO from Councillor Hardcastle. A thrilling story of the gallant endeavour of a sea captain to save the life of a man in another ship was told when the liner America arrived at Plymouth recently. Captain Rind, of the America, brought his ship in nearly twelve hours late in consequence of steering out of his course to give medical aid to the second engineer of the steamer New. England, who had been injured by an explosion. Wireless appeals for medical assistance were sent out. It is believed that the doctor arrived in time to prevent gangrene, and that the patient will recover. In connection with the “tanks,” which proved of such service in the war, it is interesting to note that in 1617, there died the man for whom if may be claimed that he was the inventor. This was John Napier, of Merchiston, the famous mathematician. who invented logarithms. One of the engines of war he invented was a “chariot of metal, musket proof, the motion of which was controlled by those within, and from which shot was discharged.” This appeal's to be the fore-runner of the modern tank, the appearance ofwhich had such a terrible effect' on the German army’s morale. A tourist in the Tyrol mountains survived a fall of 250 feet,, but was found to have lost all brain power. A party of three were descending from the Zinodl Rocks, when one suddenly lost his footing. He struck the rocks three times as he fell, and was found, with severe injuries to his head and back, 250 feet below. The injured man has completely lost his memory. He has no knowledge that he was climbing or had a fall. The doctors state that the rapidity of the fall disturbed his brain, and that he was unconscious of the physical injuries lie sustained in falling. Members of a golf club in Cheshire were greatly interested one day recently when one of their members, tin M.P., strolled into the clubhouse with a brown paper covered parcel. “Asparagus"?” queried one inquisitive friend. “Wait and see,” was the reply. Removing the wrappings, he revealed a cage full of larks. Going to the clubhouse balcony, the M.P. opened the door of the cage and let the birds go free. “I saw them as I came through the market place,” he explained, “and I could not help buying them.”