He evinced personal interest in the progress of broadcasting, stating: "Wireless is practically in its infancy as yet. There is still a tremendous amount to learn."
Scientific research in England, he said, was being applied to industries in no uncertain manner, especially as far as the manufacture of cotton was concerned. Already most important results had been obtained. There was no doubt that industries would benefit generally.
Asked about the treatment of cancer, Sir Ernest said it was reasonable to suppose that greater power was all that was required, and that would come with the ultra-violet rays.
Fire-damaged cargo landed
Thirty tons of general cargo, ex the steamer Kent from Liverpool, reached Dunedin on Saturday evening by the Katoa from Auckland. The cargo, as a whole, presents a sorry spectacle, as every package bears unmistakable signs of the disastrous fire which broke out in the No.2 hold of the Kent at Auckland recently. The shipment brought by the Katoa is consigned to several local business concerns. It comprises principally boxes of tiles, barrels of castings, bales of paper, bales of cloths, cases of books, glassware, and drapery, packages of shovels, and numerous other miscellaneous articles. Practically every case and package is either charred as a result of the flames or blackened by smoke, and many cases and packages are still damp from the water which was pumped into the Kent’s hold.
Several cases containing books have swelled through being soaked with water, and the pressure from within has caused the cases to burst. Such articles as tiles, shovels and glassware have not suffered damage to any great extent, but it would appear as though the cases of drapery and books are of very little value. As the cargo was discharged it was stowed in one of the sheds on the cross wharf. Representatives of the various consignees inspected the goods yesterday and came to the conclusion that the greater portion was of little value. A general average has been declared on all the Kent’s cargo which has been damaged by fire and water.
Wife a valuable ass-et
Dr Leon Legrain, of the University of Pennsylvania, just back from co-operating with the British Museum in excavating operations at Ur, of the Chaldees, says that the clay tablets indicate that in the days before Abraham a good wife would cost about three and a-half times as much as a donkey.
"The tablets which we found reveal much of the business life of the temple whose sacred area we are excavating. We know that 150 women were employed there making 12 different kinds of clothing.
"The clothing was paid for in produce according to its weight, after the cost of the food to the workers had been added on.
"There was a regular scale of wages for young girls and old women, as well as for full-grown workers. They would receive proportionate quantities of oil or grain. But more interesting was the cost of wives.
"A good wife would cost about three and a-half donkeys. But a man would have to work two years for a donkey. A year’s wages to a labourer who was skilled might average a half donkey. Much of the commerce of ancient Ur was calculated on that basis.’’
In his explorations Dr Legrain found the Bible story reflected many times in the life of Ur, in the 2000 years before the Christian era.
Front up
About mid-day on Thursday last, a woman who resides at Timaru was knocked down by a cyclist in George Street and was taken to the Hospital. The police have a clue to the cyclist's identity, but so far, he has not come forward to make a statement as to how the accident occurred. The evidence in the possession of the police tends to show that the young man was not to blame for the accident, but only a personal interview with him can clear the matter up.
Who will insure the insurer?
At 6:17 last evening, the Fire Brigade received a call to the corner of Prince Albert and Bay View roads, where it arrived in time to prevent serious damage to a Ford coupé which had caught fire. The car was owned by the New Zealand Insurance Co. It is stated that the outbreak was due to a short circuit in the wiring.
— ODT, 29.9.1925 (Compiled by Peter Dowden)
