NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1813, 13 April 1918, Page 1

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The most mixed population in the world is probably that of British Guiana. ■ There is an admixture of French, Dutch, Spanish, British, Coolie, and Indian blood. The Northumberland Fusiliers have the sobriquets of the “Shiners,” the “Old, Bold Fifth,” “Fighting Fifth,” “Lord, Wellington’s Bodyguard,” and the “Old and Bold.” The British Automobile Association offers a prize of £I,OOO for the best invention to enable coal gas to be used Avith advantage as a propellant of motor-cars and motorcycles. The Duke of Portland’s extensive estates comprise 100,000 acres in Caithness, 17,000 in Ayrshire, 12,000 in Northumberland, 10,000 in Nottinghamshire, and 5,000 in the Midlands. A doctor says that persons Avho attain their thirtieth year AA’ithout suffering from any serious disease are likely—all things being equal —• to live till they are at least 73 years of age. The lavo sides of a face are never alike. In two cases out of five the eyes are out of line; one is stronger than the other in seven out of ten; and the right ear is generally higher than the left. The branches of the Banyan tree —the India fig—throAV out supports which take root Avhen they reach the ground, and in their turn produce similar branches. One banyan is said to have sheltered 7,000 men. Signed depositions by passengers on the steamer Apapa, Avhich Avaa sunk Avhile on a voyage from West Africa to Liverpool, slioav that it Avas the firing of the second torpedo which Avas responsible for the loss of life. The first army medal Avas struck by Croimvell to commemorate the battle of Dunbar. The second one issued Avas that for Waterloo, although in order of service the Peninsular medal should occupy this place. Approximalely, the cedar has been knoAvn to live 2,000 years, the cypress 800, the elm 300, the ivy 3*35, the larch 576, the lime 1,100, the maple 615, the oak 1,500, the olive 500, the orange 630, the Avalnut 90, and the yew 3,200.

Bows and arrows were in use among the troops of civilised European Powers us late as 1855, for during the Crimean War some Russian irregulars were found armed with them, and some of the weapons were brought to England by the returning troops us curiosities. , The vitality of the snail is remarkable. One that was glued to a card in a museum for four years came to life on being immersed in warm water. Some specimens in the collection of a naturalist revived after they apparently had been dead for fifteen years. Dean-Inge, preaching at Holy Trinity, Paddington, London, said we did not read the Bible as much as our grandfathers did, and he could speak with authority of the younger clergy. They did not study the Bible as much as their predecessors. It was a deplorable thing. Sir Francis Fox, the eminent engineer, has found an original way of helping war work. Learning that linen was' much in request for hospital use, he obtained many old maps and surveyors’ plans mounted on linen. He soaked them, and separated the linen, which, after a visit to the laundry, was in firstclass condition for making, bandages, etc. In a memorandum on the increased cost of living, the Workers’ National Committee of Great Britain shows that, according, to official figures, the purchasing power of a sovereign spent on food is now only 9s lid, as compared with July, 1914, and the cost of one week’s food for a working-class family has risen from 22s Cd in 1905 and 25s in July, 1914, to 50s (id on October Ist last. Official returns show that there are in America ten people with an income of more than £1,000,000 a year, nine with incomes over £BOO,000, fourteen over £600,000, thirtyfour over £400,000, ninety-seven over £200,000, and 376 of £200,000. To-day there are three times as many people in the United States drawing i incomes of £200,000 a year as there were a year ago.