NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2659, 15 November 1923, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES

A most, unfortunate deal,'such as one would expect to read of in fiction was conducted on Victoria Park, Grevmouth, a few days ago, when the owner of Bay Ribbon sold the gelding to a Christchurch man for £4O. The bargain provided for a half-share in the stake if the horse won the Ngahere Handicap, in which it was due to start. The horse ran in the race, relates the Grey River Argus, but did not secure a place, and, as it was coming off the field, it collapsed and died. The purchaser was given a rebate of £2O off'the purchase money.

A well-known American millionaire is reported to have expended £20,000 on a coffin. This is thought to be the record in the form of extravagance. Several others, however, hove been known 1o cost over £I,OOO and not many years ago a woman buried her husband in a coffin made of elaborately carved mahogany, with gold fittings, and silk lining, the whole costing £4,000. In another case a woman directed that an electric light should be kept burning inside her tomb and another inside her coffin, at an annual cost of £IOO. Li Hung Chang’s coffin is said to have cost £13,000. The London “Daily Express” states that Assnn Dina, a Hindu engineer and scientist, and his wife, who is in America, are presenting France with an equipped observatory costing £1,250,000. The observatory is being erected on Mont. Saleve, a peak 4,430 feet above Geneva, and the equipment will include a telescope 105 inches in diameter and five inches larger than that at Mount Wilson. Saleve is an isolated peak, wheie the atmosphere is very pure, and the place is exceptionally free of clouds and air currents. An aeroplane service and wireless will be installed to keep the observatory in daily touch with civilation.