GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2290, 16 June 1921, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

The gold, diamond, and other mines of South Africa are enormous consumers of candles. These mines in twelve months use nearly 10,000000 pounds of paraffin lOoz. candles. The bulk of the candles are consumed in the Band gold mines. The. number of alien passengers landed in the United Kingdom last year was 427,242, and the number embarked 420,830. The. biggest number landed and embarked were citizens of the United States, being 84,633 and 81,919 respectively. The ligurc of Mercury in silver or white metal within a gilt oval bearing the title of the corps and surmounted by a crown, has been approved as the badge of officers of the Royal corps of signals. A cap badge of similar pattern has been approved for other ranks. The most novel dress in the world is that of the Laplander. He wears two or three of the same garments, one over the other, including two pairs of gloves stuffed with hay. In, addition, his cap is filled with an eiderdown pillow, and a long woollen scarf is wound several times round the heck and over the head. Most- of the world’s emeralds now come from the Muzzo mines in Colombia, U.S.A., where an emerald, weighing C3O carats was found recently. The Muzzo mines arc in a mountainous district, about ninety miles from Bogota, and most difficult of access. All the miners employed there arc pure-blooded Indians, who show an almost incredible degree of skill in breaking through the limestone containing the gems.

Few people in London know that the Savoy Hotel burns no coal. lij is the first hotel in the kingdom to take advantage of fuel oil. The test has' passed the experimental period, with the result that other hotels are expected to cancel their coal contracts very soon. In the old days the Savoy burnt 20,000 tons of coal a year. Coal carts were at the door all day long. Ihe storing capacity avus one day’s reserve of coal; now the Savoy keeps fourteen days’ reserve of fuel oil. During the golf competitions at Wellingborough, England, a carrion crow succeeded, after two attempts, in carrying off a competitor’s hall to its nest.

A third attempt to launch the new Cunard liner Laconia was made at Wallsend, but the vessel failed to move on the ways. The launch failed on the previous day owing to the high wind. The Laconia Avas timed to leave the slips three months ago, but the overturning of a steamer prevented a launch at that time. It was reported at a meeting of the London Ccffinty Council Education Committee that a hoy born without hands has attained such dexterity in art work that lie has been awarded a three years' art scholarship. The hoy was stated to hold the pencil with which he di’UAvs by the use of the stumps of both arms together. After 25 years’ service in the .London Metropolitan Police, PoliceConstable Walter Davis, who for 1.1 years timed the speed of motor vehicles on the London-Portsmouth Road at Kingston, lias retired. His “hold-up” of vehicles exceeding the speed limit resulted in 3,500 summonses, and many of the driver, paid a tribute in Court to the courtesy of their captor. The latest innovation in Paris dancing palaces is a small red electric lamp I'o signal that a lady is disengaged and desires to dance. The lamp is attached to one of the allies, and the lady merely lias to press a button. The method is said |;o have been a great success, and the number of “walliloAvers” in the establishment where the lamp has been introduced has been appreciably reduced. In his home at St. Andrew’s Road, Southsca, the two-year-old son of Lieutenant Willett, R.N., had a remarkable 'escape from death. Leaning out of his cot, lie got hold of a box of matches, antyhe matches igniting, the clothes of his co.t caught fire. His screams attracted the attention of his nurse, who seized him and carried him to safety. Though the flames spread, the five brigade quickly subdued them. Fortunately the little one escaped with very slight injuries. • •

Boards bearing words “church full” were exhibited at St. Paul’s Cathedral during a week of special services of Passion music. So great were the numbers seeking admission that the doors had to be locked. When the service began some people were sitting on the floor. “Unfortunately, avc do not often have a full cathedral,” said an official, “but on this occasion the police Avere so impressed by the size and eagerness of the crowd that they insisted on the boards being exhibited.”

A curious explanation is given of the reason for the recall and destruction of a new 14 centavo# postage stamp recently issued by the Chilean Post Office. The main features of the design, printed in black and rose, consisted of a portrait of Don Manuel de Salas. No sooneu had the stamp been issued, however. that someone observed that the engraver had portrayed de Salas drunk. Supplies were hastily called in from outlying post offices by telegram, but not before 114 copies of the libellous stamp had been sold at Quillota. The remainder of the stock was destroyed by the Chilean Government. In that section of Berlin known as Charlottenburg, there is a veritable hotel for horses. This hotel—if we may be permitted to call even a de luxe stable a hotel—provides luxurious quarters for the horses of

a Berlin bus company, as Avell as rents rooms by the day, Aveek or % year for horses visiting or staying permanently in the city. The structure, Avhieh is of brick, is three stories high. On each floor there is a roomy balcony running the full length of the building, and available for exercising the horses. An inclined runaway .connects with all balconies. A corps of uniformed attendants look after the horses and give them every care and attention that efficient hotel service' can devise.

The report that there is shortage of skeletons for anatomical studies has had the effect of bringing many out of their cupboards. “I have in my possession,” writes a Worthing clergyman to a London paper, “six or seven, small skeletons (babies) beautifully set up in glass cases. I have also t\\ r o or three skulls.” A' Sevenoaks surgeon states that he has skeletons, skulls, and other section parts. Another correspondent says that she-.has a full-size skeleton complete in a box. A firm of dealers in surgical instruments declare that they-have more orders for skeletons than they can supply. “There is certainly a very short supply,” they say.