GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 27 August 1907, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

I Sis weeks ago, says the Sydney Morning Herald, the Zoological Society's collection was augmented by the birth of three tiger cubs. Unfortunately, however, the tigress possessed an inclination —rather common In animals of her species in captivity—to make a meal of her tender offspring. To guard against a possible disaster to such a valuable litter, a foster mother was found in a «>l.ie bitch, who for several weeks brought up her strange charges with commendable care. These little animals, which are now the size of fullgrown cats, have been recently weaned, and are being brought up on condensed milk and an emulsion o? <od ilwr t:il the latter being necessary to ensure proper nourishment for their framework, It is almost impossible to realise that the three little kittens, as full of play as an ordinary cat, will develop into powerful savage specimens of their order, but even now, with their sturdy forepaws, they would be capabi,! of holcing their own with a muscular tomcat in a midnight scrum. According to the secretary, cuts at the present stage are worth £SO each.

For many years the mass of people have looked with wonderment on tiie habit of taking medicines that effects a few individuals. An explanation, however, Is suggested in the report on patent medicines by Mr 0. C. Beale, which was laid on the table of the Commonwealth House of Representatives last week. In the cour*? ol his jbt»ilegations Mr i:eale found that the basis of preparations having a large sale on the market was alcohoL In regs/l r/ ;-.t ie soys:— "One thing the publie has a right to demand in its attitude towards the proprietary medicines containing alcohol—that the Government carry out rigidly its promised policy no longer to permit Uquors to disguise themselves as patent medicines, and thereby escape the tax which is put upon other and probably better brands of intoxicants. One other demand i' should make on the purveyors of these concoctions—that they label every bottle with the percentage of alcohol ft contains." The Commissioner adds that certain preparations guarxnteed to cure inebriety contain large quantities of alcohol, thus stimulating the craving by wicked pretences.

Says the Christchurch Press:—Somo diversion was caused by two unexpected inci'j-cls ii Cathedral square last evening. An itinerant preacher, forming a party of one, proceeded to address the bystanders In his vicinity, but his comments upon their morals proved so pungent and after a few minutes of vituperation the audience closed in upon him, and be was hustled away into the silence of outer darkness. A little later, Sergeant Morgan and a policeman had to gently but firmly request the band of Evangelists taking up its stand in front of the post Office to "move on" to the Godley Statue side of the tram lines. After considerable debate and audible protests on the female part of the party, this demand was complied with, and [the service proceeded with unabated enthusiasm at the new location.

More U lone for the comfort of the worker in Germany than most Britons are awar» "We have a great deal to iearn from onr German kinsmen," confessed one of the English editors who went over the Channel to improve their minds. "The system of national insurance.. established by Bismarck, works admirably. Endeavors are being made to simplify it. Whatever its complexity, there can be no doubt of its beneficence to the workers. ili- C'jman artisan is insured against every possible vicissitude of industrial' life, from accident to old age. Both workmen and employers contribute to the old age pension and sickness funds, the State supplementing their contributions by a grant from the Imperial Exchequer. No contributions are made by workmen to the accident fund."

In a remarkable speech he recently delivered in the Chamber of Deputies, Sfgnor Giacomo Ferri summed up the extnordUaiy relations which are said to exist between the Camorra, or secret society, of Naples and the police force. Things have come to such a pass, said Signor Ferri, that judges who ventured to condemn members of the C'amo.n went in fear of their lives, and were unable to obtain police protection against thieves and burglars, wio openly entered their houses and robbed them with impunity. The magnificent body of Royal Carbineers, who have done such invaluable work in discovering and exposing the machinations of the Camorra, were systematically cpposed and denounced by the police, v. Vo declared tint the Carbineers were subject to hallucination, and that no su?h thing as the Camorra existed. After innumerable robberies and acts of violence hid gone unpunished, the w?llknown case of the husband and wife Ooueolo, who were assassinated for having betrayed the secrets of the Camorra, obliged the Government to take serious notice of the stife of affairs. When, in consequence of the investigations of the Carbineers, the celebrated Errieone and three other leading members of the Camorra were arrested, the police refused to continue the prosecution, protected Errieone, and, on 'he authority of Don Ciro Vitozzi, the priest who was known as the Father of the Camorra, who brought forward false witnesses, they released the accused. However, the Carbineers, whose uprightness and incorruptibility have been beyond all praise, refused to be convinced, and their further investigations led to the arrest of Don Vito/y.i himself, against whom nineteen accusations have been brought for theft, extortion, swindling, and forgery. In his house were found confidential letters from a well-known judge, and in (he houses of Errieone and other members of the Camorra letters and bills of exchange from many police functionaries. All this forms an indictment of a breach of the public service which the flov;rn- , ment declare they are determined to in- | vestigate thoroughly.