GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2137, 8 June 1920, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Some Italian workmen employed to clear away ruins near Verdun, have disappeared, taking with them 10,000 francs in gold, which .they found in a safe among the debris. A French' Government Commission, appointed to consider the best methods of developing sport, advocates a national office of sport under the Ministry-of War. The object is to improve national physique. Sport has received a tremendous impetus in [•’ranee since thd war, due in no small measure to the popularity of Georges Carpenlier, the boxer. During a social gathering in a church room at Campbelltown, Argyle, mysterious tappings were heard behind the panelling of the vestibule. The noise was found to be the peeking' of a jackdaw trying to escape. When freed the bird was seen to bo weak and emaciated. It was given feed, and ate so ravenously that in a few minutes it rolled over dead.

At an inquest at Coventry on Priscilla Brown, a widow, who had lived alone for 25 years, if was slated that she had probably died of shock while lighting rats, which had bitten her. She was found dead in bed with peculiar wounds on her arm. 'The body was lelt in the house, which was infested with rats, and next day more wounds of a similar character were found. The scientific writer, M. Charles Nordmann, basing bis opinion on the latest researches, says in an article in the Matin that the end of the world will not come for 10,000,000,000 years. Helmholtz and Henri Poincare estimated that the sun would have burned itself out within eight million years, but the recent discovery that the solar mass contains immense deposits of radium imhms that the duration of the sun’s heal is multiplied almost indefinitely'.

The Finance Commission of the ITonch Chamber has just decided to put a tax of 10 per cent, on bachelors, regardless of sex. The decision to lax maids, young and old, on the same footing as men is arousing keen discussion. The words of .Foucault, spoken in the Chamber {1.30 years ago when a similar project was.,put forward, are recalled: “Not a single one of yon in this House knows of a girl who has definitely refused marriage.’-

A storm in Jerusalem marked the heaviest snowfall recorded since 18(50. The snow measured 30in. in tiie open and reached a depth

the open, and reached great depths in the drifts. Many houses collapsed in the Via Dolorosa, and two cinemas and a Y.M.C.A. hut were destroyed, hut only four deaths were caused. The famous tree called “Ki Biitmi," where culprits were formerly hanged,- also came down during the storm. The local tradition runs that when the tree falls the Turkish Empire will fall, and the population of the city has been much impressed by the omen.

For the first time since 193-1 I lie police of Vienna have asked the assistance of Scotland Yard. Valuable treasures'have been stolen from the Art and History Museum in Vienna, and a long list of the missing property has been forwarded to the British police. Among the articles enumerated are the Marshal’s baton of the Emperor Francis L, which was valued before (he war at 200,000 kroner; the Marshal’s baton of Duke Carl Alexander von Lothringen, and precious stones worth (500,000 kroner. Miss Margery Deakin, who was found dead on the beach at Croydo, North Devon, was buried at sea. at Porthnean,' near St. Austell, in accordance with a wish expressed in her will. Two lishe mien whom she had named took her body in a leaden coffin out to sea in their boat. Miss Deakin, asked that they should do this when they went fishing, and drop it quietly over the side, “without any gaping crowd looking on, or any relatives or hypocrites expressing false sorrow." Miss Deakin was an artist, and a member of an old Liverpool family.

Mischievous l/oys were responsible for an extraordinary incident at Paisley. They were playing about near the tank which was recently presented to the town, and had been placed in a public park, and apparently found two six-pounder shells. With one of these they loaded and fired one of the tank guns. There were about 200 people walking about in the small park, hut the elevation of the gun fortunately carried the shell harmlessly over their heads. Where it fell has not yet been discovered. A quantity of rubbish which had accumulated in the gun was, however, blown into the face of John Maitland, a foreman grocer, who was standing near by. He was struck on the forehead and blinded. Immediately after the gun had been fired the boys ran away, and the Paisley police have been unable to trace them.