TOPICS OF THE TIME.

Hastings Standard, Issue 36, 8 June 1896, Page 2

TOPICS OF THE TIME.

Cyclominia in its most acute form is responsible for the following amusing advertisment which appears in the Morning Post:— Two girls (officers daughters), living in London, who have just learnt bicycling, and who can't afford to buy machines, would be very grateful to any lady who, having no further use for hers, would be so kind as lo give it to them. Private correspondence through K.S.K.

The Berlin correspondent of the Standard says that statistics show that for 1895-96 the richest Prussian subject is Krupp, of Essen. In the year 1894-95 he was taxed on an income of from 6,585,000 to 6,590,000 marks, and for the current year he pays 285,000 marks, having declared his income at from 7,135,000 to 7,140,000 marks. For the previous year he gave his income as 50,000 marks higher, namely, from 7,190,000 to 7,195,000 marks. It may be remembered, for the sake of comparison, that the Emperor as King of Prussia, receives an annual Crown donation of 15,500,000 marks. As with Ivrupp, so also with Rothschild, the second richest private individual in Prussia, the year 1895-96 shows an improvement on the previous one. In 1893-94 he was assessed with an income of from 5,845,000 to 5,848,000 marks, at a tax of 283,600 marks ; in the following year he paid 235,900 marks on 5,875,000 ; and this year —1895-96 —he is able to give his income as 6,115,000 marks, nearly 150,000 higher than last year, the tax he has to pay being increased to the extent of 9000 marks. In the year 1894-95 there were only seven persons with an income of over 2,000,000 marks, and in 1893-94 only four. Thirteen persons have, in 1895-86, an income of 1,000,000 or 2,000,000, as against 18,000,000 in the previous year.

A " man-carrying kite" is the latest novelty in military circles. It will surprise many persons to learn that a kite, or rather " five hexagonal kites fiying at varying distances apart on a continuous line," may be made to raise a man 50 feet above the earth's surface. At Ipswich this apparatus has been practically tested by Lieutenant Baden-Powell, who easily raised himself, and subsequenty two other persons, 50 feet into the air. To the last kite of the line a basket is attached, and above it a parachute, to ease the descent in case of accident.

It is reported that the Pope is about to bestow the Golden Rose upon the Princess of Bulgaria, in approval of her opposition to the " conversion " of Prince Boris. If this be true, the Princess will possess a distinction of peculiar value in the Catholic world. The Rose of Virtue was established to mark the highest type of character, and the practice of presenting it seems to have originated in Rome as early as the thirtieth century. It is a rose tree formed of wrought gold, and blessed with much solemnity by the Pope in person on the fourth Sunday in Lent, which is called, from the first word in the festival, " L set are Sunday." Princess Ferdinand, should she be endowed with this splendid symbol of virtue, will bear an honor which has been bestowed upon Henry VIII. (that virtuous monarch got it three times), Queen Mary of England, Maria Theresa, Napoleon 111., Isabella 11. of Spain and the present Queen of the Belgians.

According to the report of MajorGeneral Hutton on the military farcers of Now South Wales for the year 1895, it is stated that as a result of the reconstruction and reorganisation of the military forces which has been effected since -June, 1893, the colony now possesses a small but complete military force, organised throughout every branch and every department upon the latest modern lines. The officers throughout the whole force have combined to make the reorganisation of the force successful, and to ensure the far higher standard of efficiency which has been reached. A reduction in the military expenditure for 1891 has been effected of £75,126 since 1890, ora3oiper cent, reduction from the total military vote for that year; and a reduction of £58,872, or 23 per cent., has been effected since 1892. The expenditure for 1895 will be approximately the same as 1891. Major-General Hutton is of opinion that the reduction of the military vote below £200,000 per annum cannot be reckoned upon, having in regard the constant advances of military science, and the necessity for maintaining the war material and equipment in a proper and complete condition of modern efficiency,