General News.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4823, 24 June 1884, Page 2

General News.

According to the last census returns the population of Sweden has increased from ,1,763,000^1750(0 4,572,245, the most populous provinces being those of the south, as they have 38 inhabitants per square mile, while the northera provinces have only 33. During the year endiDg on March ,31, 1884, the revenue of England was £87,205,184, as compared with £89,004,456 i in the corresponding 12 months, the de«, crease being £1,799,272. There was a heavy fall in the property and income tax ■ returns, and also in receipts from stamps. The item showing the largest increase was the post-office revenue.

In a recent number of Nature, Mr E. P. Hardman, Government geologist \n : Western Australia, reports what he . regards as an instance of suicide by black snakes. A half-killed snake was attacked by black ants in the wounded parts, when "it instantly turned round and bit itself twice in the neck, with seeming deter* mination." In less than one minute it was dead, poisoned, Mr Hardman believes, by its own venom. His men reported this to be a common occurrence. ■-,

Here is one of the^ straightest things ever done on a magisterial bench. There was a general carouse in the township one night, and tbftJ.P. was in it with the -Test) '■'; of the crowd. His friends were charged before him next .morning with being drunk and disorderly. He fined:thettfcHyS entered his own name on the' charge ' sheet, called it out, fined himself ss, arid handed the amount, coram populo, to the clerk of the court!

In South Australia tbe public debfc was £866,850 in 1863, £3,] 74.900 in 1873, and £13,908,700 in 1883; and the rate per bead rose in those years from £6 3s 6d to £10.19s 7d, and in 1883 £44 18s 2d. Yet in May last they floated a 4 per cent.Jpaa at orer par. ' . > " „ •. „ In ..connexion with the Blue Bibbon Gospel Army there has been formed a woman's,crusade to organise and carry oat aggressive work against intemperance, in. Sydney. The modes of operation are to be somewhat similar to those adopted by the women of America some few years •' since, when much real work'was accom-, plished by what was then known as«sj|^ " Whisky War." A band ot earnest; Christian women paraded the streets 4' ' recent night, and made several stoppages/*. .' in front of the various publichouses ■en ■-"■ route from Pitt and Goulburn streets id ' tho Temperance hall, inviting: ;Uie^piibtt* cans, barmaids, and those drinking at the barß to the meeting at the hall. ' ■ , j W. Fellows, Clereland, Ohio, after experimenting for two years, claims to. bate succeeded in inventing a way to take instantaneous and absolutely permanent photographs upon anything haviog a smooth surface by the action of ►eleer : tricity. The expense is less tbittio&e cent for each picture. If all that ii'hera claimed is true, this invention wilt revo* lutionise photography. In Texas, United Stakes, one English syndicate owns 4:500,000 acres, and auother - ys 3,000,000 aores. Sir Edward Heed awns 2,000,000 acres in Florida, aad other English capitalists and companies owa very large blocks in various states. !Tho buyers rarely pay more than 2dol. an acre. At the present time a gigantic railroad project is contemplated in Eussia, and the Czar takes the liveliest interest in the matter. In view of the immense benefit accruing in agriculture and commerce through the completion of the network of railroads in tbe United States, the. Russian Government and capitalists hare been encouraged to undertake a similar jfork for their large country. The project is nothing less than a Russian Pacific jSailroad. The road , ia--"length will ■ aggregate 1,1,700 Eaglish miles, and the cost is estimated at 1,000,000,000 ronblea. It is judged that this stupendous work 'will take l"|meut'y y-ears to complete. It-is proposed URt during times of peace the soldiers pf^the empire shall be employed., in tb>'construction of{the road. The .Czar has decided to appoint a commissioa for tbe purpose of inre)&ing_tbe project. A most interesting addition has been macle to the exhibits at the Technological Museum in the Domain, Sydney. It is the locomotive which was used fo formally open the line from Sydney to Parramatt», itt May, 1855., To tho non-professional eye, it does not present any. great contrast to tba small locomotives now in use. The soakers' name is the world-famed one of E. Stephenson and Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne, and the date o! its manufacture* 1854A Lary's Wisa.—" Oh, how I,do wish nw skin woa a« clear and iioft as. youra i " said r ■ lady to a friend. "You can easily make ifc; tea," answered the friend. «♦ How ? " inquiredi tbe first lady. '• By using Hop Bitters, that. ~> makes* pure, -rich blood and blooming health Jfc did it for we, te yoiji ob««rr«," Be«d ' '