GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2152, 20 July 1920, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

There were over 3,000 convictions for thefts at London docks last year, and 500 for the first four months of this year. This was stated by counsel in the course of a case at the Old Bailey. In the little town of Eleerrito, California, the whole of the population, numbering 1,200, is to he-'ex-; amined mentally, crying to an epidemic of “ouija Mania,” the use of the ouija board (planehette) for spirit writing. Three women and one girl have already been adjudged insane and sent to the stale hospital. In some instances as much as £l4O in notes was burned to' the ‘‘evil spirits,” while children in (lie same house were starving.

The housing*problem May soon he solved by the French Government by the wholesale importation of Swiss chalets and those picturesque Norwegian. wooden villas which look much like dolls’ houses. A Government delegation has gone to Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and the Scandinavian countries to ascertain if regular quantities of these portable homes can be sent to France, where they will be erected on every available vacant space. A women’s football club has, been founded at Geneva, and already (50 '(members have been enrolled. A furious controversy now, rages over the important question of dress. Opinion is divided on the relative merits of skirts or the usual shorts. Many of the younger girls strongly support the adoption of man’s garb with *thc acquisition of bis game. They argue that it is impossible to nm well in skirts, and that the game might as well be dropped if it i.s not to lie played properly.

A London omnibus conductor picked up a packet of jewels, estimated to be worth £IO,OOO, during a journey between .Liverpool Street and Victoria. The owner was subsequently discovered, and according to practice tiiff lucky finder of the jewels will lie entitled to 3s in the pound on their value —in this case about £1,500. The conductor wUs collecting fares when he noticed a small packet lying under a seal. It did not greatly excite his curiosity at first, but on opening it ha was dazzled by a collection of diamonds, brilliants, and pearls. A number of complaints have been received in official quarters regarding the thoughtless behaviour of some of the visitors to the battle areas, who, it is stated, even make tires to prepare meals, and pitch teats on the ground consecrated to the dead. It is recognised that in disturbed, shell-torn ground, it may be difficult to distinguish between ground which is sacred and that • which is not, but at the same time it is urged that, out of deep respect lo the dead, tourists and visitors should exercise greater care than they have shown hitherto.

A landlord applied to the Willesden magistrate for an ejectment order against a woman tenant because she disturbed him by “trying lo sing all day.” The tenant told the magistrate that her only fault as a tenant was that .she fried lo sing, and she really could not help that. “As a matter of fact,” she said, “L cannot sing at all, as I have no voice.” The Magistrate: “You make a joyful noise.” The Woman: “Well, I must sing somehow. 1 lust my husband not long ago, and have married again, and I cannot help being happy.” Canon-Baunenuan, vicar of All Saints’ Church, Newmarket, England, appealed lo the congregation to join heartily in the singing, as (he choir boys h'ad “gone on strike.” Tire vicar heard some talking among the boys in the vestry after the organist had left the vestry lo' go lo the organ. As none of the boys would tell him who had been talking, the vicar ordered all but the biggest boys to take off, (heir surplices and sit in the nave. They did so. In the evening, out of eight men and 16 choir boys, only two men and two boys attended. The boys say that the only word spoken was by a choir boy, who asked' the number of the processional hymn.