MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 298, 6 November 1886, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

A co-operative farm for tramps lias bfcen established by a New York philanthropist. The King of Portugrl was so pleased with the Colonial Exhibition in London that he has determined to get up one himself. The first half of the current year showed a decrease in the death rate of New York as compared with last year. A number of stamps for the Government of Tonga are being printed by the New Zealand Stamps Department. Queensland's little "liquor bill" amounts to no less than £1,750,000, or an average of £5 10s per head of the population. A Company, with a capital of £1,000,000, is about to be floated in London for the purpose of carrying out a self-supporting system of emigration.

A Bombay physician asserts that a gradual increase in the size of the skull among the natives of India is taking place, which change he ascribes to the effect of civilization,

English Railway Companies have successful co-operative banks of their own. In one single Company the employes have deposited over £327,000, a remarkable illustration of thrift.

Sir William Armstrong and Co. have just obtained a very large contract for the supply of their guns to the Chinese Government. They are wanted for the new fortifications of Formosa.

Country postmen in France will shortly be mounted on tricycles. The post-office is considering a model which can be used by weak or crippled postmen, as many of these officials are invalided soldiers.

It is proposed to erect a monument to Prince Blucher at Caub, on the Rhine, where the celebrated field Marshal accomplished the difficult feat of crossing the Rhine on the night of the New Year, 1814,

German experts say the Schleimann's excavations in Greece have revealed a wealth of material for designers in woollen goods. The ancient patterns reproduced in modern fabrics would have a charming effect. English trade, according to the latest reports, appears to be in a fair way to improve, Every report from all the industrial centres confirms this view. The iron and wool trades, two staple industries of the country, show signs of greater activity. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company have given Messrs Caird and Co., shipbuilders, Greenock an order to build a screw steamer of about 7000 tons, and proportionate engine power, being by far the largest ever built and launched at Greenock.

In one week there were imported 81 cases and 468 casks of wine from Sydney and other Australian ports to Great Britain. This trade is developing, but it is hard to understand how it is that the Cape can sell a fair wine at the Exhibition at 3d a glass, when the cheapest Australian is 6d. M. Cernuschi, a well-known banker, has presented to the city of Paris his unique collection of Chinese and Japanese bronzes, a considerable portion of which formerly formed part of the treasures of the celebrated Summer Palace of the Chinese Emperors, which was destroyed in the war of 1860. The heart of the late King Louis of Bavaria, enclosed in a costly silver urn, was deposited on August 28 with great pomp at Neuotting, where the hearts of all the recent kings of that country are preserved. The requiem was attended by thousands of spectators, including 200 priests and many officials. The City Council of Oakland, U.S., has passed an ordinance making it a misdemeanour for boys under j6 years cf age to smoke cigarettes in any public p lace, and another ordinance, or resolution, requiring that every young person under the age of 16 years shall go straight home and keep within doors after nine o'clock. The late Htuse of Commons contained two marquises, two earls, 10 vi':,counts, 15 lords and 23 honorables. I>y the retirement of the Marquis of Stafford and the elevation of Lord itichard Grosvenor to the peerage, the marquises have now fallen to one and the Lords to 14. In the present House there are only 116 members h a zing titles, hereditary or inherited. The greatest balloon in the world has lately been constructed at San Francisco by aMr Van Tassel. It wiil hold 150,000 cubic feet of gas, t! nd ias been made for the purpose of traversing the American continent from oesaiL to ocean. From the bottom of the car to the top of the inflated balloon will be 119 feet, and when filled the diameter will be 68 feet. Fifteen persons can be seated in it.