NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2870, 14 April 1925, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

What was probably the largest meteroite known to have struck the ground fell in Alsace in 1429. This gigantic lump of metal weighed no less than 2(><)lb. Another large meteorite the size of a man’s head and weighing 541bs. fell in Prevence in 1(537, and 17 years later a man was killed by one while walking in the streets of Milan. One of the largest meteorites of recent times fell in 1017 at Perth, in Scotland. It weighed 381 b. In the British museum there are now over 500 different specimens of meteorites, of which about three hundred were actuallyseen to fall. Large masses of iron have been found near the surface of the ground in Greenland, and scientists believe they are meteoric origin. Similar deposits of (iron from the skies have also been found in Mexico.

A well-known firm of brass band instrument makers in the north of England was astounded to receive, a few months ago, an order from their Bombay correspondent for 24 tenor trombones. Completely surprised by the unusual number, the firm despatched a cable asking for confirmation, and in due course it came, and the consignment was sent out to India. It turned out that the Rajah, during a visit to England, had immensely impressed by the appearance of the trombone players and their instruments at the Queen’s Hall, and determined to form a private orchestra, of trombones for his own edification, not to say glorifieatioin. The actual music was of no account, although, as a matter of fact, the trombonists did learn a simple tune. It was the effect of his strange bodyguard and their still stranger instruments that fascinated the Eastern potentate. There is no accounting for lastes, especially when hacked up by fabulous riches. Effort is being made in Sydney to establish a hospital where women doctors only will be employed. A prominent lady member of the profession is engaged oil this work for her neglected sisters, of whom i! has often been said that they would succeed if women patients had more faith in them. It is a fact that there are a number of lady doctors in Sydney who do not prosper according to their qualifications, because while men are naturally disinclined to consult the other sex about their health, women, who would be expected to prefer it, actually show a marked and persistent preference for male advisors. Whether a hospital which would make it a matter of woman doctor or none would help the profession remains to be seen. The Feminist Club, which has just opened new premises ip King Street, declares its objects to be to secure equal opportunities for women with men in all spheres.

A startling mishap, which might have ended seriously, occurred in a bush where in a sawmilling centre of the Putaruru district last weekend. It appears that, at a little jubilation on the Saturday evening, a bottle of beer was somehow overlooked and found its way unobserved i»to the fireplace of the whare, which is a fairly large one, and became partly buried in the ashes. On the Sunday evening, it being rather cold, a good lire was built in the whare, and a party of four or live sat down to a game of cards, which had not been long in progress when a terrific explosion took place, a shower of hue particles of glass and live embers almost filling the whare, the flying embers setting the bedding alight in several places. No casualties were reported, although, as may be imagined, the party was considerably upset, and one member had a new suit of clothes almost completely destroyed by flying splinters of glass. So severe was tbe explosion that it threw fragments of glass on to a roof over a chain distant from the scene of the mishap.