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Shannon News, 26 September 1922, Page 2

Sydney hankers are somewhat concerned by a report that an American bank is shortly to be' established m Sydney. Since it is only about six months ago that the Guarantee Trust Co*, oi America, one of the largest

banking institutions in the United States, found it not worth while after two years’ business in Sydney to oputinue its operations, it is not clear

what the proposed new organisation expects to accomplish. It has been stated that the proposed bank is strong enough and ready to introduce sufficient capital to engage in the ordinary business of banking and of making advances to a considerable extent without depending on Australian support, at all.

A bargain in rabbit-traps has been

engaging the attention of the South Australian Supreme Court. The agent of a city house offered them to* a Murray Bridge man at half a. crown a dozen, ami the latter promptly took £rs worth. The firm, on hearing of it, said that this was absurd; that any sensible man would know they were half a crown each, and that the buyer had no right to take advantage of a mistake. He said merely that he had

bought them in all good faith, and

was entitled to what he had paid for. The local Bench found for him, and on appeal the Supreme Court did likewise. Ca\ eat emptor! However, as the higher Court added that the winner "could pay his own costs, the deal is not likely to have profited him much. The Law is not always such an ass as it looks. According to Mr Page, of the New Zealand Forestry Department, land in maiiv instances is not-producing

its maximum owing to lack of shel:er. Tin : '.'.ere places, in New Zealand that carried practically no feed which, if planted in trees, would pay well. He goes as far as to say that

where blackberry is growing on hilly country, quick-growing frees would eradicate the blackberry, and in 30 years’ time the trees would pay

Handsomely. Pinus radiata grew very quickly, and soon eradicated .blackberry. Then, again, wind breaks not only provide shelter, but also provide useful timber for the farmer. Some of the wind breaks planted were not efficient, and stock did not take advantage of them. This was so in connection with trees which, as they

grew, provided no shelter near the ground, and caused a draught. In planting for shelter at a home the department - recommended planting from 'three to* five chians from a dwelling.

The latest German invention is an ingenious instrument for compelling a burglar to ring an alarm bell that shall betray his presence. It is based on the curious property of selenium

to become a conductor of electricity as soon as light falls on it. A small hut very sensitive selenium cell, enclosed in a box about 6in square, comprises the essential pant of the apparatus. It is connected with the alarm bell by a relay, and no current passes through it while it is in the dark. But as soon as the burglar switches on his electric torch, and the rays strike • the selenium, the current flows and the bells ring. And it will be useless to cut the conducting wires, presuming they are suspected, for that, very act will start the alarm. ’rtie apparatus may be

put anywhere, several in a room, so that it would be almost impossible operating this ingenious burglar detector.