ENGLISH NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 220, 23 January 1911, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS

TillO PORT OF LUX DUX. The fust annual report of the Port of London Authority for the v.ar ended March 31, 11) 10,' which lias' ju-i been issued, states that the total' net tonnage of vessels that entered and cleared vnn cargoes and in ballast from and to foreign countries ami JJrili-h possessions and coastwise at the port of London during the year 100!) was 35,351,79!) tons, as compared with 33.7H5.51):) tons during the year 11)1)8. Of the tonnage referable to the year 100!) 20,228,014 tons entered and cleared from and to foreign countries and British possession, and 14,023,785 tons entered and cleared coastwise. The shipping which entered and left the port of London ami paid port tonnage dues during the twelve months ending March 31, MHO, amounted to 28,570,048 tons. The total value of the imports and exports, exclusive of coastwise goods, was, for London, £32-2,014,303.

HUGE NEW CRUISER. Tt is stated,that the leading private builders on the Clyde have been invited by the Admiralty to tender for the construction of a largo armored cruiser. Both in gun power and speed, it is said that the vessel is to be superior to anything yet di signed for the Navy. The new warship will 'be, it is believed, a development of the armored cruiser Lion, which is now being completed at Devonport. She is to have a speed of 30 knots per hour, and will be 72flft long. Her displacement is to be 28,000 tons, horsepower 8001), beam 87ft, and her largest guns will be li3,sin.

'■LOWEST BIRTH RATE. According to an ollicial return which has just, been issued, the birth-rate and death-rate in England and Wales .for the quarter ending September 30 last were, the lowest ever recorded. Births numbered 2-27,240, or 24.0 per 1000 of the population, 2.0 per 1000 below the average of the ten preceding third quarters. Deaths totalled K14.158, or 11.4 per 1000, which is 2.8 per IOO'O below the average. In the whole of the United Kingdom 282,51!) births and 135,015 deaths were registered, the birth-rate being 24.7 and. the death-rate 11.8 per 1000 of the population. The population thus increased by 147,504. The population of the British Isles in the middle of 1010 is estimated at 45,400,534 persons.

RUN ON A BANK,

Scenes of great excitement wove witnessed at the head olliees of the Birkbeck Bank when, owing to the circulation of an anonymous letter connecting the Birkbeck Bank..with the Charing Cross Bank, huge numbers, of depositors' presented themselves and withdrew their balances. The run lasted for two days, and some of the crowd spent the whole night outside the bank. At times there were so many depositors waiting that the queue i extended .from the middle of Staple Inn to Chancery Lane, up past Southampton buildings to Holborn and down again on [the opposite side of the 'road to the entrance. The Bank of England, however, readily hacked the Birkbeck Bank, I and the "run" dually came to au end, many of the- depositors returning their money almost as soon a.-> they had withdrawn it.

EMIGRATION" OV YOUTHS. Lecturing; on the subject of juvenile emigration oversea at the rooms of the Royal Society of Arfs. Mr. Thomas Sedgwick sai'd that all dominions'' preferred to receive immigrants in' youth, in 'orderthat they might learn, settle down and get married. The days of promiscuous transportation were pa>t, and due regard must now be paid to the overseas requirements. It was to lav hoped 'that the Coronation year would by celebrated by the establishment of an Imperial Migration Department, aided by State funds. As to the kind of lads wanted "for the' dominions, oversea farmers needed quick, active youtns who could learn to' milk, drive, dig, and make themselves useful in the House*. ' London working lads had.i been tried all over the' Empire, and had dona well. The Post Office dismissed. 4000 telegraph messengers of sixteen, years of age every year, but could not spare any of the £4,000,000 annual prolit they helped to accumulate in order to start them in the over-sea States. There were 100,000 lads in the Old Country willing to emigrate, but there were no funds except for paupers.