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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 293, 5 December 1908, Page 3

Moscow has at least 1,800 churches. ■ii5,000,00() words are sent over the Atlantic cables annually. The salt tax ill China yields a revenue of nearly ~C2,OOI),000 a year. Nearly two thousand memorials to Bismarck have been erected in Germany,

The apple trees In bearing in Canada exceed 12,000,000, while 3,000,000 more are growing up.

Turkey lias more aged people, <n proportion to tlio population, than auy oilier European country, Stockings were first worn In tlie eleventh century. Before that, cloth bandages were used on the feet. Jn the lust four years the deer forests of the Xorthei'u Highlands of Scotland have, increased by nearly 39,000 acres. The Philippine islands number in all 2,000. JJefore the American occupation, the number was estimated to be 1,200. Vienna has a school for waiters, where in a three-years' course pupils are taught tho same subjects they would learn in j ordinary elementary schools, but French I is added to the programme. In addition I there is the technical training, which includes cookery in all its branches, the | coni|insitinn of a correctly spelt menu, I and last, but not least, the art of deportment.

The Yang-t.sc-Kiang, Hie famous nuulily river of China, is one of the greatest of rivers, and its ('alley 1* the niosl-densely-populated and! closely cultivated river-basin on (.lie globe. It crosses the whole, empire in its three thousand mile course to the sea. The river has a different name in almost every province, aail continually pours a flood of diluted mud through half its valley, coloring tin ocean for a distance of several miles from land. As inn example of the. remarkable hauls of herrings sometimes taken oil' Yarmouth the case may be mentioned that a boat wliosc not were 100 full to he all drawn in. After taking 150,000 herrings, which sold for £lO,-,, the rest of the nets were handed over to another

hoat, which, after taking !)0,0lll) more herrings, was obliged to allow the remainder of the nets to sink. Living mummies exist in Tibet in small caves in the solid rock, each built up in front with stones and mortar. I They have padlocked doors, tiny drains, and small holes just sufficient for a man to pass his hand through. Tn I hose cells men are hurried for life, will, the idea of thus "attaining merit." Once inferred, they are. in extreme cases, never seen a»»'m Ivy mortal eve. Their death is only made known when they fail for several days to stretch out the hand for food.