HERE AND THERE.

Shannon News, 8 November 1927, Page 2

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. Landmarks in Arab Progress. The Governor ofFez, Pasha Bouchata el Baghdadi, has acquired a typewriter. This may seem an inconsiderable incident, but it is, in fact, freighted with much significance as another landmark in Arab progress. Last year an automobile was given to the Governor. At fn'st he vehemently declared that he never would enter the ‘‘carriage of Satan,” though afterwards he made much use of it and got great pleasure from it. Now this progressive official accepts without demur a typewriter, , perhaps the more readily because General Charabruu, the diplomatic French officer ,wlio placed it before him, took ■pains to have it type for him in Arabic the words ‘ ‘ God bless our lord the Pasha.” ##& * # & London’s Traffic Peril. , In the first thre months of this year, 214 persons were killed in street accidents in the metropolitan area of London. Of this number 75 -were killed bv trade and commercial vehicles, 69 bv private motor-ears, 23 by motor- 1 cycles and 17 by omnibuses. In all, 21,342 accidents occurred in the streets, causing damage to persons or property. Private motor-cars were involved in 7483 of this total, and trade and commercial vehicles in 5349. ~ ¥ V. King Fuad’s Palatial Yacht. • When King Fuad of Egypt goes sailing on the Nile he goes in a new royal yacht which is quite royal, yet different from, the usual variety of royal yachts in that it has paddle-wheels specially designed to navigate the river, similar to steamboats on the Mississippi and other American livers. The Kassed Kheir, as she is named, is 237 ft long, and develops a,speed of liine and £ one-half knots against the current. Dust and insects have no chance of ges ting into the royal apartments, since they are protected* by a system of ventilation by which cool or warm air is supplied as desired and can be “dried or moistened.” The King’s apartments comprise an observation room, drawing room, bedroom and anteroom. The Queen’s suite is similar, and there J\re suites for royal guests. The furniture is of walnut and tulip wood. "f* Tliousand-year-old Plant. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Regent’s Park, London, possesses a plant that was old at the time of the Norman Conquest. "A native of South Africa, where it is commonly called “Kaffir bread,” it is known to botanists by the formidable name of Encephalartos Altensteinii. By comparing' - * the number of leaf scars on the trunk with the number of fronds produced annually, scientists have calculated that it is at least 1000. years old, and may be much older. It gets practically no from outside, but carries ' within itself a supply of both food and water, and it is due to the fact of these being used by the Kaffirs in times of scarcity that the plant owes its popular name. •

V## # # London’s Oldest Grocer. The oldest groeef in London, Mr Ernest W. Bedford/ of Bell Yard, has celebrated Ills seventy-first birthday by refusing a Handsome ‘‘birthday present. ’’ It was an offer to buy his shop and the floors above it, which liave existed since shortly after the Fire of London, and have been in his family since 171)3. The little shop is now wedged in between a forest of great banks and offices. In 1917 Mr Bedford was offered £25, Out! ...for the property, but refused. ; r • ###* # . W Official’s Cycling Record. After* acting as Clerk of the Peace lo Surrey County Council for iff years, Mi- T. W. Weeding is retiring at the age of 81. On Mr Weeding consenting to act in an advisory capacity, he will be granted £ISOO a year for life, while a successor is to be advertised for at £2500 per annum. Mr Weeding is well, known as a cyclist. He purchased his first bicycle in 1869, and for years rode a machine the front wheel of which was 60-J inches high. This bicycle Mr Weeding, who is 6ft 4in in height, rode through every county in England except one, covering 40,000 miles. #### * * # Russian Banknotes. A surprising run on the old Tsar rouble lies been attracting the attention of German banking circles. They are at a i loss to explain this sudden and increasing demand, chiefly by German and English bidders, for the practically demonetised Russian banknotes. Some people believe that a British movement is on foot to propagate and • lend financial backing to a Russian monarchical restoration. Others think , it is merely a scheme on the part of a number of smart speculators who hope later to sell these valueless banknotes at a profit.

A gun now on exhibition has ( a most interesting history (says the Nelson Mail). The firearm, which is now irp the possession of Mr Geo. Hall, of Brightwater, was originally a flintlock, made in 1745, and was used at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 by Thomas Tyrell, senr., a great-grandfather of Mr Hall. In 1834 the firearm was converted into a nipple gun, and was brought to New Zealand by Thc-mas Tyrell in 1842. In 1843 Tyrell was amongst those killed at the Wairau Massacfe ( the gun being Accidentally discharged and killing the chief’s daughter. This incident, it is said, brought about the massacre. The stock of the gun was burnt in a fire at Brightwater in 1916.