NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1979, 20 May 1919, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF.

There are 175 varieties of dogs,

In India 121 guns is the King's naval salute.

About 20,000 mines are believed to he still in the North Sea.

Few of the great peaks of the Himalayas have ever been scaled.

Until 1879 Versailles was the scat of the French Government, Normally there are 1.50 births to 70 deaths daily in London. The Roman signal for battle was the unfurling of the red Hag.

Muffs were first used by doctors in order (0 keep their lingers soft. An Indian beekeeper has succeeded in breeding a race of slingless bees.

It takes the constant labour of 60,000 people to make matches for the world.

A superintendent of ral-cafchers, salary £2OO, is to be appointed in Hampshire. Between 15 and 20 per cent, of Ihe largest London houses are at present empty. At St. Dunstan's 7,939 disabled soldiers, including 009 blinded, are now being (rained. Until 1834 no grant was made by the British Government for education, and then only £20,000.

The whole fleet of London omnibuses is (o he repaired or replaced at a cost of nearly £2.600,000,

Trading in ordinary commercial goods is now allowed with German territories occupied by the Allies, Louis XIV. drank the first cup of coffee made in France. The price t herr Avas upwards of live guineas a pound.

In Ihe ports of the United Kingdom 2,340,474 troops were dealt with between the armistice and February 22nd.

Raising of foxes, or fox farming as il is called, is rapidly growing to be a large and profitable industry in Alaska/

Trial /lights have been made near Paris with a new aeroplane specially designed and equipped for surgical purposes. The post-war wedding ring in England is made of platinum, and is sold’by Aveighf, the price ranging from £5 upAvards, The groat spruce Avhieh groAvs in (he forests of British Columbia provides (he best wood for aeroplane construction.

British Columbia has established a system of aerial fores! patrol and the United Slates is arranging a similar system. Scientists say that we are never nearer death than when we sneeze, the act causing a momentary convulsion of the brain.

In .July, 11)14, prnH icaily I lie whole of llu j antiseptics used in Ihe medical world were manufactured liv German chemical (inns.

When Albert Brough, 7fr. (Min. inll, died, n hearse had to lie length:‘iicd jo carry his remains, Ho was said to ho the (allosi man in the world.

It has lioon found possible by aviators to use magnetic compasses by mounting llnmi on horsohaiv cushions, which counteract the vibrations of aeroplanes.