GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1944, 25 February 1919, Page 1

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

FRUIT TREES FOR FRANCE. Over 9,000 fruit trees have been planted in the wrecked orchards of France by the Agricultural Relief of Allies Committee. BIG NEWSPAPER DEAL. Mr Robert Donald, late editor of the Daily Chronicle, is acquiring from Lord Rolhermere the important group of provincial papers hitherto controlled by him. These are the Glasgow Daily Record, Glasgow Sunday Mail, Heeds Mercury, Scottish Weekly Record, Northern Weekly Record, and the Yorkshire Weekly Record. WHERE BOMBS HELPED. Secrets which have been loyally kept by more than 8,009 war Avorkers were revealed at Derby Avhen, for the first time since August, .1914, permits Avere given to inspect (he Rolls-Royce works on the outskirts of (lie toAvn. The story of an incident that occurred there two years

ago can now he told. In January, 191(i, one of a number of Zeppelins that roamed over the midland and northern counties passed over this district, and released all its bombs on an oval motor track encircling the works. Thousands of men and women were at work at the time, but the bombs merely hastened the work of excavating the solid concrete of the track, which had been condemned To make room for new buildings. The'-workmen were pleased next morning to find that the hardest part of the work had been done for (hem —bv German bombs.

CA NADI AN A BLOW A NCRS. Separation allowances for the dependents of Canadian privates and N.C.O.’s have been increased from £5 to £(> a mouth, of warrant officers from £G to £7, and of lieutenants from £0 to £8 a month. A BUSY .DOCTOR. When a sergeant of the Special Constabulary stopped a Croydon doctor and told him he would be summoned for having only one light on (he front of his motor car, (lie doctor replied that he hoped he would be sent to prison, because it would give him a rest. EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY. A strong earthquake shock was fell recently in the Provinces of Florence and Forli. The greatest damage was done at (Santa Soiia, Bagno di Romagna (Florence), and Mordano. At Santa Sofia the church collapsed, eight persons being killed and several others injured. NO STATE SOCIALISM. From (he Dutch Government's memorandum on (he Budget: “Holland will gladly lake part in eventual international discussions on the establishment of a League of Nations. Holland does not intend to lake the path of State Socialism, either here or in the colonies.'' ATLANTIC HURRICANES. The oil tank steamer Aras, from America, bound to England, experienced two hurricanes in the Atlantic, suffering immense damage, and was nearly foundering. Oil was poured overboard to calm the sea, and a steamer stood by her. A huge volume of water washed over, taking the chief officer and an able seaman overboard. They were drowned. The captain was washed from the bridge against the chart-room, where ho was jammed. A seaman, who was carried overboard, with his companions, was washed back again, and received bad cuts on his head, but his life was spared.

“MR. DOOLEY'S” SACRIFICE. Property Avorth more than £l,000,000 was left by Mr Robert Collier, head of Collier’s Meekly, and other publications, who died suddenly, immediately after his return from Europe. It was left in throe shares to his three friends —Payne Whitney, Fingley Peter Dunne, and Francis Garvan—no bequest being made to his wife, whose father, he thought, had provided lor her sullicienlly. But each legatee has renounced his right to the property in favour of Mrs Collier. ..Mr liuley Dunne became famous as the creator of “Mister Dooley.”