NEWS IN BRIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 151, 17 June 1908, Page 3

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Tlie first census in England was taken on March 10, 1801. _ There are four sovereigns iu circulation to one half-sovereign. Fish-hooks have beeu made in the same shape for 2,0(J0 years. The highest clouds are only about ten miles above the earth. Few blind men ever smoke.

An average display of fireworks at the Crystal Palace costs £lO a minute, and lasts half an. hour. The smallest inhabited island in the world is that on wliich the Eddystone lighthouse stands.

From coal is obtained the means of producing over 400 shades of colours. The signal cabin at. Eustou station (London) contains 2SB levers. Tlie average yield of milk from a cow is 400gais. a year. living organisms have been found in a piece of cheese weighing 1 p _ ozs.

The number oi ISritish hor-cs bred i~ falling off at the rate oi nearly four thousand a year. Mahouu'dans use the lunar ye.ir. which is 10 days 21 hour-. 112 .3 seconds shorter than ours. At Tiree, in the Hebrides (Scotland!. JCCOO worth of kelp, or burnt seaweed, is exported every fortnight.

Silver i* not a legal tender fur sum* over two pounds, nor bronze for sum* of over one shilling. The ChaonH islands are not part of the United Kingdom, hut form part of Britain'* European possession*. A candle !oft. high, which will burn for two year- or morn, ha* jiM been manuf.otnrrd for an lialian mihediak The randl- iiPMMin- sin. in diam-t-r and weigh- :il*lb.