NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3925, 2 April 1929, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Bible is printed in Briiille for the use.of blind readers; it occupies 74 volumes. Christmas pudding Was originally plum porridge and, was served at breakfast, not at dinner. . The earliest, known mechanical toy dates back about 2000 8.C., and is of Egyptian origin. Pipe-smoking is growing in popularity in New York, British-made pipes being the -most popular. The Newfoundland sealing fleet caught nearly 228,000 iseals last season —50,000 more than last year. The use of padded coats to protect horses in the bull ring became compulsory throughout Spain last year. Smoke is the greatest nuisance in the Lancashire mill towns and the Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield districts. The British Army Council has decided that the pitch of military bands throughout the country is to be lowered. Almong the treasures of York Minster is an Anglo-i Saxon copy of the Gospels. This ,is the oldest relic in the cathedral. In the library of Go'ttengen, Germany, is a Bible written on palm leaves. There are 5373 pages, eaclil made of a single leaf. A London fog is a Imixture of smoke and water, but contains less condensed water than a fog outside the metropolitan area. Elephant’s hide ds used in Sheffield, England, for burnishing cutlery. It is dark brown, and not unlike wood in texture. Only two London hospitals —the Royal Free Hospital and University College Hospital—now admit women as medical students.

The largest meteor on record .was that of August 18, 1783, which traversed Europe from 'Shetland to Italy at 30 miles a second. There are ,250,000 words in the English language —70,000 more than in the French, German and Spanish languages combined. American .collectors during the last 10 years have taken British antiques valued at a total of over £50,000,000 out of'the Country. A collie dog which was taken by motor 40 undies from Ms home at Kufford, near Oiimsjrirk, Lancashire, England, returned the next day. A gust of wind at 81 miles an hour registered at Croydon recently was 'the highest wind velocity ever noted in or near London. Many of the inhabitants of the Irish counties of Down and Antrim speak a form of old Scots, with little .sign of the Irish tongue. ICloal weighing about 200,000,000 tons is burned every year in the United Knigdom; of this about 40,000,000 tons is burned in domestic grates.