GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2268, 26 April 1921, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

Many of the wealthiest members of the Osage Indian nation attended the famous Osage stomp-dance at Amita, Oklahoma, via aeroplane. There is more wealth per capita among these people tliau any other nation in the world. It is derived from the oil on their lands, which contain some of the richest mineral products in the world. Is it any wonder when limousines and runabouts ccti.se to thrill that they purchase aeroplanes?

“I do not sit hero to advise lovers,” said Mr Francis, magistrate, at. Westminster, to an attractive girl. She had handed up u letter

from a boy of 17, saying she was al'raid of him. The Magistrate (reading tho letter): “It looks as if he is not quite a stranger. I see there is enclosed a cutting of a tragic letter from another hoy lover. I think 1 had better send the police to sec this young gentleman.” Some unknown person set lire early one morning recently to the 3ft.-high figure of Christ on the War Memorial cross in the churchyard of St. Martin's, South Cliff, Scarborough. The flames were seen by Sister Elizabeth, at the clergy Home of Rest, opposite the church. Hurrying to the churchyard, site put out the tire with a hand tire-extin-guisher. The feet of the figure were burnt away. It is stated that the lire had been started with tire-light-ers tied to the cross by wire.

Prior to the launching of a Japanese ship a religious ceremony is performed, after which the ship is released in the usual manner. But instead of tho customary bottle of wine with which to name the ship, myriads of cut flowers, usually chrysanthemums, the Japanese national flower, the sponsor’s bouquet, and some two dozen pigeons are set free from a large decorated ball or globe, eight feet or more in diameter, suspended over the head of the launching party, by the sponsor pulling a cord.

The newly-built Etate Prison of Illinois, is the first of its kind in the world. A slight curve in the sky-

light, designed by a professor of astronomy at the University of Chicago, gives every one of the 248 cells that do not get sunlight direct, 90 minutes of sunlight on every bright day. Every cell has an individual wash bowl, with hot and cold water. In the centre of the prison is a tower, from .which tile guards can see the movements of all the prisoners. The prison is surrounded with a circular concrete wall, 331 ft. high, and at night the outside of the prison is lighted with brilliant electric lights.

Misfortune has befallen the British Government transport Huntspitl, which now lies half submerged at Southampton Docks. One night recently the vessel took a sudden list to port, and water poured in at the portholes. She sank off Ocean Quay. Divers went down, but found nothing to indicate the cause of the accident. They found the vessel’s hold and engine lAom full of water. It is surmised that one of the lower portholes was left open, and, with the gradual list'of the vessel at low tide, the water poured in. Foul play is not suspected. Huntspili, formerly a German ship of 0,000 tons, was to have sailed for the Far East with troops. The new silver coinage, protested the Royal Numismatic Society in a recent resolution, “is without exception the worst and most carelessly struck that has been produced by any great mint since the establishment, of tho coining press in the 17th century.” In reply, the Chancellor of the Exchequer admitted there is room for improvement, but challenged the accuracy of the society’s facts. Sir Charles Oman, M.P., the former president of the Society, said that in a few years “the new semi-silver shilling will assume the colour and appearance of a half-' penny. “\ know of eases where the new coins have a crack across the centre from which red rust exudes.” Affecting scenes were witnessed when the Wallisyard Workhouse, Westminster, closed down some of the aged inmates, who had, lived there for a number of year.-, crying bitterly at leaving their old home. As several of them were from 70 to 80 years of age, they were convoyed in motor ambulances to tlie Fulham Road institution, to which ail the inmates were being transferred. There was only one old lady left. She is 82 years of age. and the oldest inmate, having , been there 35 years. She has consequently been privileged to stay on for a while a> the only inmate of the workhouse, the staff having not gone. Thm workhouse, which was opened in .1884, is one of several recently closed down in London. Some time ago the casual wards were given up. and many of these have been renovated and turned into flats. Many applications for the old workhouse have been received, including inquiries on behalf of a local brewery.

A theory that Captain A. E. Bonham Carter, of Bushev, Herts, shot himself while walking in his sleep was put forward at an inquest reeenllv. Captain Carter was found dead in a sitting posture on a sofa in In's bedroom. There was a bullet wound in his head, and an automatic pistol was on Ihe floor. According to a doctor, the wound was solf-inllicted. Other evidence showed that the captain, who was in the nabit of walking in his sloop, was about to undergo an operation, but was looking forward to it, as lie hoped it would give him relief from incessant internal pains. From certain writing found on a pad in his bedroom it, was surmised that he had been walking in his sleep.* The coroner said there was no evidence of suicide during temperary insanity. The tragedy might have been due to an ace'dcnt, or Captain Carter might haves hot nimself in his sleep.

A comedy of errors between n deaf man and dumb man was enacted in Paris recently. A violinist named Fatal was walking home from a house where he had played at a private dance when he noticed he was followed by a man. Fearing that he was an Apache, Fatal told him lo stand off, and, taking a hottic of rum, which had been given him by his guests, struck his pursuer a blow on the head. The man fell, and was taken to the hospital by policemen, but the in juries were not serious. The two men consequently appeared before the magistrate. As M. Fatal is deaf and his victim is dumb, the magistrate found the guntest difficulty in proving that the dr,'mb man is a peaceful citizen whose only object in following the deaf violinist was to try by signs to ascertain his way home.