NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2256, 29 March 1921, Page 1

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The eider duck builds its nest of its own down, six nests being required to supply one pound of this famous' down.

An electric light and power enterprise at Osaka, Japan, with its 25,000 kilowat turbine units, will have the largest steam power electric installation in the Far East, with the completion of the plant now being erected. The very first seismoseope, or earthquake recording instrument, was made by the Chinese as long ago as 130 A.D., just about the time that the Romans were invading Scotland and building a rampart from the Clyde to the Forth. Great Britain has three marine flags—the white ensign, flown only by ships of the Royal Navy and vessels of the Royal Yacht Squadron; the blue ensign, the tlag of the Royal Naval Reserve; and the red ensign, the flag of the merchant service.

London Zoological Gardens have a population —furred, feathered, and scaled —of nearly 3,000, and in these days of high prices the bill for feeding these 3,000 creatures is a very serious matter for the society, especially as it has to be done out of the sixpences and shillings of the visitors.

Goldfish are natives of China, where it has long been the practice to keep them in vases for jhe amusement of Chinese ladies. Goldfish have become Britishers by naturalisation, and they were introduced into that country about 1691. They were not, however, generally known till 1728, when a great number were presented to the country through Sir Matthew Dckker, who distributed them up and down the land.

Observations made simultaneously from stations far apart have proved that, the average meteor, when first seen, is about 80 miles above the surface of the earth, and disappears from view at 30 miles. In other words, it travels 50 miles before the atmosphere friction burns it tip. This friction, it is reckoned, raises it to a temperature of something lil«' 3,000,000 degrees, so that, unless of large size, it has no chance to reach our planet. Exciting scenes of a fancy dress dunce in Haves (Kent) Village Hall are reported. Before the dance began a flashlight used for a photographic exposure set fire to a lug paper bell suspended from the ceiling, and in a few seconds the adjacent decorations were ablaze. Girls screamed and made a rush for the exit. Men seized chairs and settees, and with walking sticks tore down the blazing hangings. After the smoke had gone and the debris bad been removed the dance was reopened. No one was injured.