MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, Volume 27, 17 November 1919, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

The total number of gratuity payments received by the Auckland Post Office Savings Bank is 1320. ; ‘ I A Chicago reformer,” states an American writer, “proposes the abolition of all church choirs,” then adds, “tho movement for world peace continues to make rapid progress.” : Mr Hawley, president of the Aero Club of America, has announced that _ an aerial Derby around the world will be held between July 4th, 1920, and February Ist, 1921. The zone of the travel will be eonfined to an area between sixty degress north latitude and fifteen degrees south. Controls will ! be established, anu three referees appointed in every city in the zone which j lias cordial relations with tho United .States. The race is open to either sex/

It is becoming quite apparent that practical and useful radio equipment for automobiles is not far away. In a set of recent design, which talks 15 or 20 miles and telegraphs 40, the antanna masts, like miniature telephone posts, arc carried on hooks under tke running board, and only installed, at front and rear of the car, when emergency demands their use. The talking equipment has been reduced to a practical degree of compactness.

Writing from Geneva, a New Zealander says: The real danger now threatening not Switzerland alone but Europe, however, is not Bolshevism but bankruptcy. German notes are now little less than scraps of paper, while Austrian notes are not even current; and if Germany should be obliged to declare herself bankrupt, then Switzerland’s position would be gravely endangered, not to speak of the calamity which would overtake France, Italy, and Belgium.

A story is told of the King of the iledjaz and his court. A British officer had been received at tho court and tho king ordered a feast in liis honour. Tho table was spread, it was six yards wide and long in proportion, whole sheep were served, and the carver walked up iwd down upon the table attending to the wants of the guests. When the inm- fOT retiring came relays of musicians were told off to sing tho Englishman to sloop, and throughout tho entire night sweet melody soothed his slumbers. Versed in the ways of the East, he accepted this hospitality with composure. But on his return to his own camp he slept for 24 hours.