NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2239, 15 February 1921, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Canon Alexander, speaking at St. Giles’, Cripplegate, appealed for public support to enable the Cathedral authorities to complete the work necessary to ensure tire safety of St. Paul’s Cathedral dome. He referred to the critical problem of the stability of the dome, the piers of which were tilled with rubble. “Day and night,” lie said, “there is going on a veritable struggle of gi-

ants, the dome pressing down the piers, and the piers straining to uplift (he dome. Nearly a quarter of the necessary work has been earned out, and if wages and prices remain at their present level a large sum will be needed to complete the scheme.”

As a result of a curious combination of accidents a man named Samuel Hall was admitted to Barrow Hospital in a critical condition. A jttotor-’bus is believed to have knocked him down on the road near Furness Abbey. The driver and two passengers placed him unconscious in the bus to remove him to hospital, but on the way the vehicle swerved to avoid a hoy with a handcart, and overturned. The driver, the passengers and Hal! were all carried into a neighbouring doctor’s surgery, and Hall was later removed to a hospital with a fractured base of the skull, a fractured collar-bone, and fractured leg. The other people concerned were none the worse for their experience.

Three students of Exeter University College confessed in the local police courl that Iliov were ringleaders in the armistice night “rag” which resulted in .the famous .statues in the city being coaled with red paint. About 04 students started the “rag” after a supper and smoking concert, but only ten took part in the painting, which was originally intended' |o he limited P> “reddening the .noses” of the effigies. As a matter of fact, the,statues, including' those of General Buliei', Lord Idelesleigh, Sir Thomas Aelaiul and Richard Hooker, were' rather freely bedaubed. Tile three delinquents, who had each won decorations during the war, pleaded excess of animal spirits and exuberance, and protested they had no desire to offer indignity to any public person, or to commit real damage.

ft is reported from Mexico that a geologist has announced tire discovery oii the lost diamond mines in Iho Stales of Guerrero, which General Guerrero, after 'whom the Slate was named, is supposed to have found more than .1110 years ago. '1 he general, who presented many valuable gems to |lie .Emperor Tfurbidc. died without disclosing Ihe whereabouts of the mines.