GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8060, 10 March 1906, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

The only capital ill Christendom that has never been captured by a foreign foe is London. This means of course, captured and hehl by an army of occupation, who havo retired after the declaration of peace, as in the case of the capture and occupation of, and subsequent retirement from Taris, by the Germans in 1870-71; and not as in tho conquests by the Romans and Normaua and others ol England, in ancient limes. In many parts of India the post-oflice is still regarded as so miraculous an agency by the more ignorant natives that the very let-ter-boxes are worshipped. In one euse a man posted his letter in a box, and shouted out its destination to inform the presiding spirit, whom he supposed to be inside. Another native went through various devotions before and after posting his letter, and finally put some coppers before the box as a propitiatory offering.

« » « Most people attend a public meeting more than once in their lives. It is therefore well to know that there is one spot in tho kingdom where, during a great portion of the year, it is little short of high treason to hold an open-air meeting for a political object. That is in a circle measuring one mile in any direction from Westminster Palace. M.P's. are so much afraid of publie meetings that they have made a law which renders its illegal to meet anywhere within this circle during the session of Parliament for the purpose of petitioning the Crown or Parliament. Professor Hans Molisch, of Prague, has invented, or discovered, a lamp lighted by means of bacteria. Being entirely free from danger, it will lie invaluable for use in coal mines. It consists of it glass jar, in which a lining of saltpelrc and gelatine, inoculated with bacteria, is placed. Two days after inoculation the jar becomes illuminated with a wonderful bluish light, caused by the bacteria, which have developed. It will glow brilliantly for two or three weeks. Faces fan be recognised at two yards, and large type easily read by it. If these atouis of life can show forth brilliant light, how much ' more ought we, with Divine possibilities and powers, to let our light shine before men?

The Golden Hose of Virtue, which the Pope occasionally presents to lhu-c who Vork for the church, was originally a single, Simple flower of wrought gold, stained or linted with red, in imitation of the natural Color. Afterwards the golden petals were adorned with rubies and other gems, and ■ finally the form adopted was that of a thorny branch with several flowers and leaves and one chief flower at the top, all of pure gold, with the exception of tiie precious stones [ with which the principal parts are einbel- : lished. This decoration is not often son- ' ferred, and it is considered of such eonse- ' quence that it is either preiented by the • Pope in person or forwarded by a deputy o! the highest standing.

There is a curious army of workers in Birmingham who are known by the title of nieat-tiu lum'ers. They arc several degrees below,the man who calls for rags and bones, lor their business chietly takes them to refuse heaps. The " meat-tin heuter is ready to search any dust-bin to which he is allowed access, and many of the big hotels and restaurants give the necessary permission. The " hunters " travel all over the capital of the Midlands live days in the week, and on the sixth day they make their money, for the tins arc incited down, and the solder thus obtained is readily disposed of. It is, however, dillicull to earn more than a few shillings, even if tins arc plentiful. The best time for the tin searchers is ill tho summer, when tinned meats are in great demand. To pay £1*7.000 for a hoise's tail strikes one as the height of extravagance, to say the least of it. Yet that was the sum actually and cheerfully disbursed for ono the other day in Constantinople. The vendor was. however, it .should be explained, the Sultan of Turkey ; and the purchaser was already in possession of one tail. Tho The acquisition of the second, therefore, raised him at once from the rank of " Sanjak," or inferior provincial governor to that of " Pasha " proper, as we understand the term in England. Henceforth he will rule over an entire province, to the unfortunate inhabitants of which he will look to recoup him for his prime outlay during his first year or two of ofliee. There are also in Turkey Pashas of Three Tails, tho highest rank of all ; but they are few and far between. The Grand Vizier (or the time being is, however, always one by virtue of his otliee. These tails "are not, :i» most people outside Turkey are apt to imagine, actually worn a{ ornaments by the individuals entitled to them. In fact, they are not " worn " at all in the strict acceptation of the term, but are hung from the pule of the standard which is ' carried before his Highness on state occasions and in time of war.

In Hawaii, despite the recent " American j invasion," the " old nobility " still cling to their mantle* ot " I'ele's hair." I'ele is tho goddess ot the {mat voieano—called Mauua Loa by the natives—which dominates the island'; and tho " hair " is a curious filamentous fabric, spun by the wind fiom the lava jets emitted from the crater, and afterwards blown over the edge and into tho crevices ot the cone. There are now only about twenty people iu Hawaii who are entitled to wear these unique dresses,. ami very proud they are of their privilege, exercising it upon every possible occasion. Europeans who have donned them, however, assert that they are conspicuously lacking ip the two main attributes which clothing ought by rights to possess, viz., warmth and comfort; and that the only thing to he said in their favour is that they are both pretty and uncommon. Perhaps, however, the most extraordinary emblems of rank in the whole wide world are the golden corsets which, according to Graul, are worn hy the daughters and wives of certain Dyak chiefs. One of these was critically examined by the Dutchman and his companions. At first it was thought it might possibly be only brass, but a closer inspection proved it to he made entirely of the more precious metal. The material had been welded into rings, of which there were forty in all, the smallest being iouDd the waist, and the others increasing gradually in circumference ui they approached bust and hips,

MERIT KEWAKJWD li* COURT OK JUSTICE. The acknowledged good rjur.lities and success of Sander Soxs' EUCAUfI'Tr xtract have brought out many imitations, and one case was just tried in tin: Supreme Court of Victoria, before his Honor Chief Justice Sir J Madden, K.C. M.G., ete. His honor, in giving judgment, said that, whenever an article is commended I) tho public l»y reason of iis guod rjuality, etc., it is nut permissive to imitate any of iis features Kcstraining the imilators perpetual!'" from doing so, he. ordered them to pay ali osls. We publi h this to afford the pt uplp ,m opportunity of protecting themselves, and f seeming what is proved beyond alt doubt by skilled witnesses at the Supreme Court of Victoria, and by many , authorities during the last "it years lo lie a j preparation of genuine merit, vi/..; Tin; t > t:\ cini' S.vmii;u ,fc Soxs | I'uHti Voi.ATILE IiuCALYTTI | IixTUAL'T j