MISCELLANEOUS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8165, 20 April 1895, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS.

In accordance with Siamose custom, the body of tho recently-deceased Croarn Prince was tightly bound up, tho chin rusting on tho knees. It was then placed in an iron urn, which was put into a magnificent urn of gold, studded with precious stones. This was placed on a golden pyramid Oft high, in a building adjoining the grand palace. Horo tho body will remain for a year, and then bo consigned to tho flames. About 130 persons suffered from poisoning after eating soup presented to her customers as a Christmas box by the • landlady of a public-house noar Binning' ham. One doath occurred, and at tho adjourned inquest a specialist reported that tho soup was found to c >ntain the bacteria of sewo^-gas, which increased «t tho rato of 10,000 a day. Tluir presence was said to bo duo to the soup being allowed to cool in a boiler within 4 r t of an untrapped drain. An aged lady recently complained to a London magistrate that because she was a little behind with her rent her landlady followed her to her ohurch and asked for it i here. Tho landlady came into tho pew alongside her, and when she was joining in tho responses, was constantly whispering to her about the rent. When it cuno to tho response "incline our hearts" tho landlady would add "to pay our rent." Tho magistrate said it was very annoying, but thero was nothing illegal in it. Last year the " natural increase " in the population of England and Wales was 390,727, or muro than 50.000 above the average incroase in tho five prt ceding years. The birth rato in England and Wales for tho year was 29 6 per thousand, the lowest over recorded. On the other hand, the doath rate, 16 6, was oven more remarkable, being not only the lowest ever recorded, but as much m 1 5 per thousand undor tho lowest previous rate, which was 18*1 in 1888. Tho midday gun recently went off before its timo at Capetown, due to a spider having ontored the eleotrio apparatus by which it is tired. A curious case of kleptomania is reported from abroad. A wealthy society woman, noted for her wit and brilliancy, has developed a manU for stealing men's hats. Further, when invited to a reception or ball, she makes things decidedly unpleasant by cutting out the crowns of as many hats as sho can lay hands upon. Tho •• Ministry of Old Boots " supply 30,000 garments and 2000 pans of boots to the needy one§ of London »«uu»Uy,