News of the World in Brief

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 7

News of the World in Brief

When Screw Propellers Were First Invented LONDON STAGES INTERESTING EXHIBITION. (British Official Wireless.) Received Friday, 7 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 11. A special exhibit of models has been arranged at the Science Museum, South Kensington, to mark the centenary of the first practical use of marine screw propulsion for ships. A wooden screw propeller of two complete turns with a diameter of two feet, was patented in 1836 by a farmer named Francis Smith who demonstrated it successfully on Paddington Canal in February, 10U years ago. During test trips the launch struck an obstacle and part of the pro pcller was broken off, but to the inventor’s surprise the accident materially increased the speed of the boat. Models on exhibition include those on the original launch and a larger vessel 125 feet long, to which Smith’s invention, consisting of a double threaded screw of a half turn, was fitted. By way of contrast, a model is also shown of screw propellers of the Queen Mary which are 20 feet in diameter. BALLOONS AS BARRAGE. (British Official Wireless.) Received Friday, 7 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 11. It is announced that plans have been made by the Air Ministry for the manufacture at the royal airship works at Cardington, near Bedford, of a certain number of balloons for use in balloon barrages which form part of the air defence of London. Bince the construction of air ships was discontinued at Cardington, the establishment there has been maintained on a skeleton basis. MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED. Received Friday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 11. The Daily Telegraph’s Munich corre spondent says the Nazis are closing Catholic schools in Bavaria despite Hitler’s guarantee under the Vatican concordat that they should remain open. TROTSKY BRINGS LIBEL SUIT. Received Friday, 7 p.m. BASLE, Feb. 11. Alleging libel, Trotsky is suing the Swiss communist newspaper Freiheit. The move is apparently intended as a counterblast to the Moscow trial with the view of exonerating him. It remains to be seen whether the authorities will permit the hearing. MILLIONS OF WIRELESS SETS. (British Official Wireless.) Received Friday, 7 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 11. The Post Office announces that at the end of January the number of wireless receiving licenses in force in Britaiu was 8,071,464 compared with 7,478,617 a year ago. WOMEN SWIMMERS DECLINE NEW ZEALAND VISIT. Received Friday, 11.45 p.m. PERTH, Feb. 12. The women swimmers Evelyn Delacy and Dorothy Green, announce that they cannot accept the invitation to visit New Zealand at this late stage and are advising the Association accordingly. DUKE OF WINDSOR’S ALLOWANCE. Received Friday, 7.10 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 11. Attacking the Socialists attitude to the civil list, the Daily Mail, in a leader, says that the Duke of Windsor should be treated in a way befitting the King's brother and his arduous service to the Empire. Nobody except Socialists would have dreamed of debasing the natnral impulse of the country toward its late sovereign, into a political mercenary calculation.