NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3548, 9 October 1926, Page 1

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The tallest mast ever carried by a British yacht has been placed in position on the Britannia, the King’s racer. It is lOOi't. in height. It is estimated that the heart beats on an average of 58 times a minute in vegetarians, while meateaters hearts beat seventy-five times.

Stated to be the most fantastic fish in the world, the coral fish of Java is deep orange in colour, with pale blue bands edged with black.

Married women and spinsters will soon be indistinguishable by name in Denmark, as they will both be addressed by the single prefix “Erne” (Mrs.). A rainbow may sometimes be seen all day long in a cloudless sky in Siberia. It is stated to be due to reflection of the fine particles of snow in the air.

Captain W. S..C. Stephens, aged 30, of Alton, who has been a soldier, aviator, engineer, salesman, surveyor, and tax collector, is to be as a priest. The following articles were found in the crop of a chicken in England: Two screws, a ring, three buttons, sixty half-inch brads, and a wireless terminal.

One cormorant will destroy 2£ tons of fish in the course of) twelve months. These birds are a serious menace to fishing, especially on the south coast of England. The smallest dictionary in the world, containing 15,000 definitions, is one and one-eighth inches long, three-quarters of a inch wide, and three-sixteenths of an inch thick. Six millionaires were among the 780 tourists, chiefly students, who arrived in England in the students section of the third-class of the Leviathan on a recent trip from New York.

A new estimate places Canada’s population at 9,364,200. In 1901 it was 5,371,000 —an increase in 25 years of 4,000,000. Sixty-two per cent, of Canadian houses are owned by their occupiers.

This year is\. expected to set up a new record for the erection of work-ing-class houses in England and Wales, as 180,000 should be completed.'' The highest total in pre-war days was 105j000. “In recent years there has been a saving in England of 37,000 infant lives per annum, largely as a result of the work of health visitors,” sa,id Mrs Hilton Philipson, M.P., recently. Omnibuses can pass through the new omnibus station at Victoria Station, London, at the rate of 220 an hour at the busy times. When the system of light signals is completed even this number will be increased.

An expert chemist, who has specially trained his sense of taste, is employed by the Metropolitan Water Board to sample the London water supply used by seven million Londoners. He abstains from smoking and follows a special diet.