NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2255, 24 March 1921, Page 1

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Glasgow Savings Bank, the largest in the United- Kingdom, has a balance due to depositors exceeding £18,000,000. The scientific study of electricity began in the sixteenth century, when certain experiments were shown to Queen Elizabeth, The out-of-work donation paid through English labour exchanges between November 11th, 1918, and June 18th, 1920, was £53,209,000. The names of 50,077 men and 8,098 women appear on the jury list for the County of Middlesex —one woman to every six men.

A Bill is to be introduced into the American Congress to make the Panama Canal impregnable by attack from the air, land, or sea L Reptiles and other lowly lifeforms can grow new parts in place of those lost; but the body, once severed, does not grow together again. Religion played a great part in (lie first emigration movements, Spain desiring to establish a large Catholic settlement in South America. Playing cards were invented about the year 1390. in order to amuse Charles VI., then King of Prance, who was subject to tits o.t melancholy. According to a return the most heavily-rated borough in England or Wales is Abortillery, with 2(3s fid in the £. The lowest is Blackpool, 8s 3d. Standing trees to the value of £14,000,000 were estimated to have been destroyed last year in America by beetles and other species of insects. During 1913 slightly over 2,000,000 German clocks were imported into England. Between January and September of last year nearly 1,200,000 were imported. Hostilities against rats are to be opened shortly in the rural districts of Prance, notably in Champagne, where the rodents are increasing to an alarming extent.

The agricultural situation in India is causing anxiety, The official winter monsoon forecast shows an unfavourable rainfall in the northwest, and the neighbouring hills. California produces about 200,000,000 Hi. of prunes annually. Ninety per cent, of the dried prunes and apricots consumed in the United States and Canada are grown in California.

A football match between deaf mutes, with persons similarly affected as spectators, has been played at Northampton. The referee controlled the game by signalling with a handkerchief. A. serious outbreak of fungus among salmon is reported in the upper reaches of the River leith, Perthshire. One hundred and fourteen fish have been taken out of the water and buried.

England grows two per cent, of the world’s wheat and oats, and four per cent, of the barley, and contains two per cent, of the world’s cattle and horses, and three per cent, of the sheep. The official report of the Prefecture of Police, giving the crime statistics for Paris during 1920, shows that of 25,027 men and women arrested during the past twelve months 4,033 were foreigner >.