NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4527, 6 November 1930, Page 1

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Approximately 1,500,000 wording days were .lost in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the first four months of this year through industrial disputes. The pound sterling recently had a purchasing of 12/2 as compared with Ju'lv, 1914, according to the official cost of living index nnnilber in Great Britain.

About 440 new boohs were added last year to the National Library for the Blind. The library circulates the volumes without charge among 10/100 sightless readers. A modern railway engine of the best type costs between £6OOO and £7OOO, and a whole long-distance train, such as the “Flying Scotsman,” is worth anything up to £40,022.

In reply to a question at a meeting of the London County Council in regard to street accidents, it was stated that about 35 per cent, were due to the fault of pedestrians. ,

“Bungum” is the local name for the rivetr mud at Tilbury, on the Thames, where a new dock has just been opened which puts this place among the big ports of the world. 'The word “Bolshevist,” which means “majority,” first came into popular use in 1903, when the radical wing of the Russian Social Democratic Party, led by Lenin, gained a majority. Brompton Oratory, one of London’s most famous churches, is to be entirely covered inside with mosaic! decorations in all colours. It is estimated that the work will take about 10 years to eoniplete. The earliest directory for London was published in 1677 and contained 1790 names on 44 pages about the size of an ordinary prayer book. The present directory contains nearly 4000 pages.

The fastest lifeboat in the world has been launched in England. The first lifeboat was patented by an inventor named Lukin in 1785, and parliament awarded a grant for an improved form, by Greathed id 1802.

Classes for such practical subjects as carpentry and masonry are now being held in Dartmoor Prison, the iißiiates of which are also allowed, in certain circumstances, to take lessons by correspondence in other subjects. Germany may have a new “polltax.” A “poll-tax,” from “poll,” meaning a head, is so called because it is a tax “per head” of the population. It was once levied in England, and was 1/- when it ceased in 1089.

Nine hours’ sleep, four hours off duty every day, and special inspectors for food and sleeping accommodation will be compulsory for German domestic servants if a Bill to go before the German Parliament becomes law.

The original manuscript of “Deutschland über Alles,” the famous German national hymn, was recently sold for £3 13/-. It was written by Hoffmann von Pallersle■ben, in 1841, while staying on Heligoland, then a British possession. Among the curious “cures” used in cases of asthma have 'been (1) swallowing a lairge lump of honey on retiring ,to bed, (2) a spoonful of olive oil every night after dinner, and (3) a spoonful of black treacle after the midday meal and two rhubarb pills at night. Beauty culture is getting cheaper in New York. .For the equivalent of a shilling, an American girl in that city can have her hair shampooed or her fingernails treated. Four shillings is the cost of a -shampoo, manicure, marcel wave, end other beauty treatments combined.

“No more long distance flights •for me. ‘There is nothing left for me to do,” said Kingsford Smith. “Besides, I am getting married.”

IDr. Elizabeth Gunn has been granted leave of absence from.the end of this month to visit Java, Singapore, India, the Persian Gulf, 'Constantinople and the Continent. Pour new pawnshops- for motorcars have been opened in Prague, Bohemia, where motor-car owners gladly avail themselves of the opportunity to raise money. The pawned are hired out by the pawnbrokers to anybody who wishes to drive. Damages and repairs are paid by the companies owning the pawnshops out of the profits derived from hire.