GENERAL NEWS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6545, 29 February 1928, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS

Heavy snow is to be seen on the ranges behind Apiti and Levin. After the Feilding carnival last night the visiting swimmers were entertained at supper by the Feilding Club. Mr. Campbell returned thanks for their hospitality on behalf of the visitors. In congratulating the Feilding Amateur Swimming Club at* last night’s carnival for the promotion of so many successful carnivals Mr Campbell, president of the Manawatu Swimming Centre, explained that the dug gave free tuition to the pupils of 12 schools. According to Lecturer C. T. El; vcy, of the North-western University, U.S.A., should the sun blow up some day wo should have exactly 138 hours to live. By the end of that time the burning gases would reaclj the earth and all life would be annihilated. A study of the stars at the Yerkes Observatory led Mr, Elvey to this conclusion. “ Stars do explode,” ho points out; “ The last celestial catastrophe occurred when Nova Acquilae was seen to blow up in a flash of light last August. There is no reason why the sun should not do the same at some future data” Mr. J. B. S. Haldane in his new book, “ Possible Worlds,” has many interesting things to say on mortality in various occupations. The most dam gorous of all occupations, with a deathrate almost two and a-half times the average, is that of barman; due mainly to overcrowding and under-ventilation of their places of work. Tho next most ■unhealthy trades, with a death rate just double the average, are tinworkers and file-makers; tho main cause of death being consumption. Only a few kinds of dust are harmful, some actu ally beneficial. “ Coalminers’ lungs are black, but their death-rato from phthisis is half that of tho general population. ’ ’ Tho healthiest occupations, Mr. Haldane says, appear to be the- manufacture of glue and manure, “an interesting commentary on the widely-held theory that bad smells cause bad health.” Electricity supply workers are well favoured with half the average death-rate. They are followed closely in tho scale of health with clergymen, gardeners and farmlabourers. In connection with the reversion to ordinary time, passengers by the 2.0 p.m. Wellington-Auckland -ex. press on Saturday next should note that between Otorohanga and Auckland the train will be running one hour ahead of that shown in the Department’s Timetables. For example this train is shown as due to arrive Auckland at 6.41 a.m., actually the arrival will be 5.41 a.m. Of course the difference will apply only to Sunday next the cause being tho extra hour gained through'the clocks being put back.