NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1209, 17 February 1914, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

The population of New Zealand at December 31, 1913, was estimated at (exclusive of Maoris) 1,084,662 —an increase c: 32,035, made up of 17,816 excess of births over deaths and 14,219 excess of arrivals over departures.

At the King’s personal desire a portion of Kennington on the southern side ot the Thames, one of the worst slum areas, of which the King is landlord, has been completely cleaned out. The old houses have been demolished, new streets formed, and a number of modern artisans dwellings erected.

The latest fashion sensation attracted a crowd along Broadway New York, last week, when dressmakers’ mannequins appeared in split skirts with trousers neatly creased showing beneath. Leading modistes declare the fashion is likely to catch on, as the garb is warm as well as discreet.

A new regular direct steamer service with Boston and New York is announced by the New Alrican Steamship Co., as agents for the Federal Shire Line. The first boat to load in New Zealand for American ports will be the Roscommon, taking meat and other produce and sailing about the middle of April,

Criticism in the Prussian Diet of the reckless speed of the Royal motor cars, was unpleasantly illustrated during the Emperor’s hurried visit to Potsham this week. Despite the signalling of mounted police to keep the streets clear a motor lorry rounding a corner missed the Emperor’s car by inches but overturned the following car, containing aides de camp. The occupants were not seriously injured.

The February number of the the Review of Reviews contains many articles of special interest. In “Can Radium Cure Cancer ?” Dr. Howard A. Kelly, of John Hopkins University, tells what radium has done in conquering his fell disease, and what its limitations are. Possessed of a whole gram of the precious element — there are only thirty-nine other grams in the hands of scientists — Dr. Kelly has been able to carry out a series of vitally interesting experiments. The views of prominent writers are given ou the Home Rule question. M.M.B. gives a short account of Harry Lauder, who will soon reach these shores. The Character Sketch gives some intimate particulars about the late Lord Strathcona. The serious condition of Federal finance is the subject of an article in which the editor points out that a deficit of ,£5,000,000 may be expected next year. Mr Sberwell, M.P., who recently visited Auf tralia, gives his impress! ’S, dilating on the enormous advance since he was there. The conspicuous need of Australia, he says, is, of course, population. The same note is struck by Mr Scr d, in a special article on immigration.

An item ( that appeared on the Supr'cmentary Kstimates as payment to Messrs Veitch and Robertson. M’s.P., lor services rendered on the Cost ot Living Commission, has naturally aroused some curiosity. It appears that these two Labour members were under an agreement with Mac-

keuzie Government to draw £2 2s per day, in addition -to £1 is per day travelling allowance. The present Government was, ot course, honourably bound to meet a liability incurred by its predecessors. But the arrangement by which two members of the House, who were already drawing £6 per week from the country in honorarium, and who were privileged to travel free on the railways, should receive £3 3s per day for their services, strikes us as the height of extravagance. When all is said and done, we do not suppose that the report of the Cost of Living Commission is worth the paper it is printed upon, let alone the three guineas per day to Labour members. But your good Liberals have the peculiar faculty of doing things in style—and beggar the expense !—Masterlon Age.

A man, a Paris psychologist says, is happy when he has something definite to make him happy. A woman, on the other hand, is happy unless there is something definite to make her unhappy. The reason of this is, he adds, that woman’s sense of responsibility is small. She is content to enjoy the present without worrying about the future.

A Cambridge resident claims to have a rival —or rivals—to the goose that laid the golden eggs. He has kept record of the egg production of a pen of eight black Orpington hens for twelve months, from February 3rd, 1913, to February 3rd, 1914, and the remarkable aggregate of 2,232 eggs is arrived at, giving an average per hen of 279 eggs. These figures show a return, at one penny per egg. of £g 6s for the pen of eight hens. —Waikato Independent.