GENERAL NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 178, 20 August 1909, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

The generosity of the American millionaires lias not yet equalled Potomkin'e, that famous Russian spendthrift of 1789. It is told of him that when travelling with Catherine 11. to the Crimea he gave a superb dinner, pacing a dishful of (pearls for dessert, each guest helping himself or herself with a spoonful of goodly size. The wealth of the German nation is multiplying with inarvelious rapidity. Kerr Dembcrg, the Colo null Secretary, puts the increase during the two decades, ISB4-1904, at 30,000,000,000 marks ( £l,420,(j00,000), and even the Sochi Democratic organ Vonvaerts accepts the figures without protest. Every indication points' to a ■condition of almost unparalleled prosperity among all classes of the people to-day. The high-born Turkish women are fimong the most cultured of Europe. They are versed in ancient and modern history, are familiar with the poets, s'peak many languugcs, and are accomplished needlewomen. .Many of them arc musiea'l, and the majority sing delightfully. They have unerring taste in the selection of colors for their costumes, always attaining a wonderful degree of harmony between their dresses and the rich hangings of their rooms. One of the municipalities in Greater ( Iterlin, Schoenberg, has a bank-book issued by the municipal savings institution in the name of every child whose oirth is reported to the authorities. Also one mark' (25 cents) k deposited for tUe child. TJie theory of the practice is that with the small sum as a starter parents will be encouraged to make deposits for their children. The original deposit may not be withdrawn by either parent within two years' of the date of the beginning of the account.

The Dreadnought has so far become a household word that it will be interesting to know that no less than seventy of these leviathans will this year either be built or under construction or authorised. Each of them represents an expenditure of about £2,000,000, or an aggregate of £140,000,000. These seventy Dreadnoughts are divided among the nations of the world as follows:—Great Britain 18, Germany 13, United States 8, Japan 8, France o, Brazil 3, Italy 2, Russia. 4, China. 3, Chill 2, Argentina 3. A "world's record" for long-distance telegraphy was' established on 23rd Janu. ary, when the direct transmission of messages between London and India was begun. The extreme distance over which ii message was Hashed without interruption and repetition was about 7000 miles. The line of wires that carries thesfc messages was recently completed by the (tiling up of the gap between Teherin and Karnslii. The Wheatstone system of automatic transmission is used throughout the line. Tlie work of draining the Piako swamp goes on steadily. Already 20,000 acres have 'been drained, and tliTec surveying parties are now engaged on this' block, which will ,be ready for settlement in twelve months. The two dredges are now engaged on the main canal, one at Waitaknruru and the other at tlie upper end of the swamp. At the Maukoro Block since draining operations have taken place flax has been growing in abundance, but owing to the low price of fibre there is no inducement to make use of it. It is estimated that if the whole swamp were drained it would yield sufficient product for lifty or sixty mills.

The suicide of a boy aged eleven and a-half years is reported from the Jlossvalc district, New South Wales. Alfred Waters, residing at Yaranga, was at dinner with his parents 071 Sunday week when his father had occasion to correct him, and ordered the boy to his room. Nothing more was thought of the incident until the report of a gun outside the house was heard. The boy's father rushed outside, and found Alfred dead. Instead of going to his room, the youngster had left the house, and, obtaining possession of a gun, had removed his boot from his right foot, pulled the trigger with his toe, and shot himself through llic forehead.

The conjunction of Venus and Jupiter last evening (says Friday's Auckland Star) was watched with great interest by many people. Many children were out in tlic streets scanning the sky to watch the astronomical event. "What are .von looking a t? ,f queried one lad about nine years 1 of age of another in firev-streot. "Them two stars," was the reply; "there'll be a Ibig smash-up soon." The .sky was beautifully clear about G. 30 o'clock, consequently a good view was obtained. enus looked remarkably biilliant, although some 133 millions of miles away, whiie Jupiter naturally appeared smaller, the distance being (IS(J millions of miles. Venus will appear nbove Jupiter this evening, and the distance between the planets will* increase each night. The Hon, U Buddo, Acting-Jliniffttfr of Lands, informed a Time* representative recently that the whole of the four hundred sections to be opened up in connection with the. improved farm settlements' scheme are now ready for application. There are 100 i u AVHlinirtosi, 12') in Taranaki, and 180 in Auckland province. The regulations governing the leases will bemade more liberal" than previously. No rent will be required for eighteen months after the usual periods, so that persons taking up sections will thus have at least twenty-one months' grace before being called upon lo pay rent. Residence will be insisted upon, ami no lease will be granted till after the first rent is paid, thus preventing transfers. A$ a. matter of fact, tile regulations provide that even af f er a lease is issued no transfer will be isivuited where a profit is shown on the transaction. "I have had many informal applications," the Minister 'remarked, "from the country, and a considerable numbe r from residents in the city of Wellington. These must nil apply to the Crown Lands Commissioners of the districts in which the sections they desire are situated."

Apropos of the purchase of a Remuera property liy the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, for the sum of £12,000, we understand (says the New Zealand Ilcriid) that the Order of French nuns 111 question takes possession 011 10th January next. In the meantime -plans are being prepared for tile extension of the property to suit the purposes of the niw convent. The Order is a very wealthy one, despite, the fact that tile whole of its house and landed property was confiscated by the State in France, the members being, ill many instances, daughters of some of the richest families in Europe. The funda are the ladies' own private property, or "dowries." Tli is money, diverted from Prance, is being distributed over various portion* of the globe, as the sisterhood sets up neiv homes, A large portion oi it, estimated to run into close upon ,C 100.00(1, seems likely to find its way into New Zealand. Already there are convent high schools belonging to the Order at Wellington and Timaru, and though the Auckland establishment may be the last (or some time, doubtless it: the future there will be similar institutions started in other centres.