NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2804, 30 October 1924, Page 1

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Drought has boon very severe in srnue purls of South Africa. In Namaqualnnd, now pari of the Cape Province, ilie thinly-scattered native tribes of TTolientol origin lately almost reached starvation point', living on gum from iho rives. Miniature IralTie towers are being used on after-dinner speakers' tables in New York to curb, i lie tlow of oratory. Amber and green lights warn the speakers ilmf their time is about to expire, while a red light is a signal for a full stop. The quaint Toby jugs in the form of a stout old man, originated in tlie eighteenth eenfnry. They probably represented I’nelo Toby, or Captain Shandy, thj* uncle ,of Tristram Shandy, one of the chief characters in Sterne’s novel of that name. Pound growing on a slope of Mount Everest, at a height of 20,flftflft., ti wild rhododrendron has been successfully transplanted to K'ow Gardens. Until this specimen was found scientists believed that plant life cotiid not exist at a great - cr height than 17,0001.1. Released from llfrtieombe. a toy balloon uas picked up at 1 finite foi'linei, Mnt iiiha n, l-'ratice. alter having (.ravelled ai leas! 22n miles. Tlie balloon was only Sin. in diameter and was tilled with hydrogen. 11 v. us released will) 350 others in a i h:irity balloon nice. A (dub is lining formed in London to cater specially for women who are no longer young, and cannot afford to grow old. A house has been taken for the purpose in South Kensington. and there will be accommodation for about 3.1 lonely women who work for their living. The superstitions of bathers. a.l Eastbourne have led to the Corporation deciding to eiiminiale No. 13 from all their bathing lulls. It has I,eon found that while queues wailed at other lints those numbered 13 have remained unused all day. A. Charles 1 florin has been discovered beneath the roots «>i a giant walnut tree which timber-fellers removed from a Cotsworlli Tillage. The coin had apparently been placed in the ground to mark an ancient •festivnfwhen the tree was planted 800 vea rs ago.

A facsimile (which can be covered bv a halfpenny) of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway's 550 - page time-table, which can be covered by a half-penny, and an even- smaller tour guide book, have been presented -to the library of the Queen's doll house.