NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3787, 3 May 1928, Page 1

NEWS IN BRIEF.

For the privilege of issuing notes, the Bank of England pays the Government £IBO,OOO a year, plus a percentage of certain profits. Only one woman in Englaad holds the post of deputy governor of a prison; this is Miss Mary Size, recently appointed to Holloway Prison.

The largest proportion of blind people lose their sight during the first year of sight, and the next largest between the ages of 60 and 70. Over 553 million local calls were made last year by London telephone subscribers, while inland trunk calls from London averaged 16,000 a day. Blenheim Palace, the seat of the Duke of Marlborough, is the largest private residence in England. The main building alone covers three

acres. Human nails grow at a rate of about an inch and a-half a year. A man aged seventy has grown nearly 9ft. of nail on each finger —9oft. altogether.

The return from income tax in Britain has shown a steady decline, from 1922-23, when it was £314,374,524. In 1926-27 it had decreased to £234,717,000. Charts showing the ' prevailing winds,- foggy areas, and so on, in the North Atlantic, are to be issued each month by the United States Hydrographic Office. W!hen ships are launched in America flowers, are strewn about, instead of a bottle of wine being broken as in Britain. In Japan a number of birds are freed. Britain’s blind population is increasing. In March, 1927, the number of blind persons registered was 46,882; this compares badly with the figure for 1925, which was 42,140. The strangest club existing m London is run to help those who have been in prison and do not intend to go there again. It is aptly named the “Run Straight Club.” A breach of promise action was heard at Leicester Assizes recently, in which a woman of fifty sued a man aged fifty-three for £IOOO damages. They became engaged twenty-nine years ago. Britain can claim to be the pioneer nation for women aviators, two of whom hold commercial licenses for flying. France has, however, the first woman engaged in aeroplane constructional engin-

eerin^. Three bodies share the responsibility of lighting British coasts Trinity House, the Commissioners of Northern Lights, and the Irish Light Commissioners. Their services cost about £1,000,000 a year.

A shooting party organised at Southampton comprised four guns, five dogs, and two motor-cais. It was later joined by four beaters, and four hours’ sport in drenching rain produced one rabbit. The first wedding for ten ycais has just taken place at Culbone Church, near Porlock. Measuring only 30ft. long by 12ft. wide, this church is reputed to be the smallest in England. It has no vestry.