NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2701, 28 February 1924, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

Tn the Jenolan Caves there is a “wishing pool,” into which visitors llirow coins for the Lithgow and Bathurst hospitals. If was cleared recently and yielded £351 10/10, the result of about 13 months collection. The amount, was made up mostly of small coins, there being 10.138 three- penny pieces and 13,381 pennies. The copper coins became badly tarnished, but are made as good as new at the Lithgow Small Arms (or Alms) factory.

An outbreak of bubonic plague in the north of the Free State (South Africa) is assuming serious dimensions. The (government has drafted police to Kroonsfadt to control the movements of natives, who are being refused travelling passes excepi' in cases of urgency. 'Fite'plague is being carried in a southerly direction by veldt rodents. The country is alarmed tit the daily report of fresh cases. The Government is hesitating to proclaim the outbreak a formidable epidemic, fearing the closing of foreign ports against South African produce. It is'stated that industrial accidents cost in England, £50,000,000 annually and a very large saving could be arrived at by inculcating the exercise of care and developing knowledge. Tn one SlieOield steel works which joined the British Industrial Safety First Association in 1919, the number of lost tjme accidents per 1,000,000 hours worked, has fallen from 50 to 29 in 1922, the number of days lost per 1000 hours worked having decreased from 3.05 in 1919 to 0.7 iu 1922. The compensation paid her £I,OOO wages bill was 13/5 in 1919, falling to 6/1-2 in 1923. the figure for 1922 not being available. In a similar manner for an electrical manufacturing firm in the Midlands, the compensation paid lias fallen from 9/11 in 1913 to 2/10 in 1021. A pathetic little note was read at' the inquest at Auckland into the death of Mary Harkins, the fifteen-vear-okl girl who was found with a gas tube in her month at her home on Wednesday afternoon. “Dear Mum/’ it ran, “It is good-bye, as I could not stand being put where Dad put Reg —so please forgive me ami don’t think too had of me. 1 just sent Elva a little note, as she has been my best friend. Ask the kids what T said I would do. Goodbye, your broken hearted Mary.” A line of kisses followed and then. “Please bury these two photos with me. My last wish is to kiss my cold brow.” —The father of the child had scolded her, and in reply to her remark, “you will be sorry you scolded me,” said: “There are places where I can put you till von are 21.” thinking she meant she would run away.