GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 292, 2 May 1913, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

PIEIIPONT MORGAN'S PIETY. DIED WITH CLEAR CONSCIENCE. (Sydney Sun Cable Service). New York, April 22. The estate of the late Mr. Pierpont Morgan U estimated to be worth £40,000,'000. The will of the famous financier reveals his complete belief that there was nothing in his life that has not been cleansed from his soul, which, he was confident, would he present faultless before the throne of the Heavenly Father. Only a few charities are mentioned in the will. One interesting disclosure the document makes is that of the existence of an underground passage-way from the millionaire's residence in Madison Square to an alley in the next street.

NO RIGHT TO LIVE. G. B. SHAW ON SMOKERS. London, April 21. Mr. G. B. Shaw has entered the lists against Sir Arthur Pinero, the wellknown playwright. Last week the latter put forward the assertion that the falling-off in the attendances at theatres was because patrons were not allowed to smoke while the play was on, whereas at the music-halls they were, and the music-halls were successful. Mr. Shaw, in his reply, says that smoking is : an utterly filthy and detestable habit. People who smoke should not be allowed to go to theatres or anywhere else, or even to exist.

CONQUERING DIPHTHERIA. * NEW SERUM ANNOUNCED. London, April 22. Professor Behring reported at. the Medical Conference at Wiesbaden yesterday the discovery of a new antidote for diphtheria, consisting of a mixture of diphtheria toxin and anti-toxin. Unlike the old serum, it is harmless, and more effective. The professor is ready to supply hospitals with the serum in order to obtain wide and accurate observation of its effects.

At Magdeburg a doctor inoculated a child with the new serum, and then transferred it to another child. This is said to be the first diphtheria case on record where human serum has been used.

PENNY LETTERS. UNIVERSAL SYSTEM. London, April 21. Sir J. Henniker-Heaton states that he holds guarantees from millionaires to protect the British Postal Department against loss- in the-event of the introduction of universal penny postage. He believes that the question of loss is problematical, and even if there were any it would disappear in three years. BEATEN AGAIN. NEW ZEALAND AHEAD. London, April 22. New Zealand lias stolen a march on the Australian States in the matter of arranging with the Port of London Authority for the erection of a storage slied for perishable produce. The Dominion has completed a scheme for the building of accommodation, within three miles of the Smitlifield Meat Markets in the city, for the reception of frozen meat.

FRAGILE PROFESSIONALS. WANTED-A MATRON. London, April 21. Commenting on the English Cup final between Aston Villa and Sunderland, at the Crystal Palace yesterday, the Times says:— "The game was continually stopped by small casualties. "Expensive professionals are very fragile creatures. The smallest hack, which a public schoolboy would not take any notice of, is enough to send them to' earth, displaying well-acted, but nevertheless supremely ridiculous, agony. The referee then blows his hard-worked whistle, and both teams hurry up to soothe the injured spot with a sympathetic paw. "The Football Association ought really to appoint a matron to act as mother to wait upon those tender creatures, and in the old fashioned way, kiss the place to make it well.' Her presence officially would add gaiety to the proceedings."

A BROKEN HEART. TAILOR'S SUDDEN DEATH. London, April 21. A man named Alexander Burness, a master tailor in the East End of London, svas quarrelling with one of his employees to-day, when he dropped dead. The medical autopsy revealed ttafct death was actually due to a broken heart caused by disappointment and anger. NORTH POLE TRIP. AMUNDSEN'S FINANCE ASSURED. London, April 22. The financial side of Captain Amundsen's North Pole expedition is assured. He starts from Seattle in the Fram a year hence, and will be absent for five I years, drifting across the Polar basin towards his objective.