General News.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5279, 18 December 1885, Page 4

General News.

To show what an infective people we arei the following statement is of value, Ud toonsidering that we are an agricultural tod not a manufacturing people it is quite <ftmarkable. In proportion to the popula• two, more patents are applied for in New Zetland than in any other country in the world, and the increase will continue;as teehnioal education is developed. In 1884, -wo less than 359 patents were applied; for in New Zealand^ and in Great Britain i?M*110 were'applied for. In proportion to the New Zealand is first, yjUitat Britain second, and the United States of America third, though the lastMmed country has been heretofore first. ■""There is stilU an Englishman who says "God save the Qoeen, 1' "I. awhisper of '""aw*; "ATThJB last triennial festival dinner of the Charing Cross Hospital, the treasurer ~"»tid in: his speech: •• But when we con* aider the readiness with which the royal ffimily~-I think I can say our royal family (hear, hear)—are always ready to come forward upon any occasion when they may be able to promote any undertaking that conduces to the welfare of the community; * tnd, when we consider the fact that Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, His Boyal Highness the Prince of Wales, and _ the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are patrons of this hospital." Turning to the list-of subscriptions it is seen that the Queen subscribes £50, H.RIH. the Duke of Edinburgh £45, while £3000 are given by Miss Matilda Levy, who was not mentioned in the treasurer's address. r ,.,.„.An. English working man, just passed the middle age, found that his pipe, which for many years had been a great comfort -to '.him, "was beginning to r leribnsly affect his nerves. Before "" jpving it up, however, he determined to, find out if there was no way by which he night continue to smoke,without feeling itsi effects to an. injurious extent.. He accordingly; wrote to a medical journal, and was recommended to fill the bowl of - his pipe one-third full of table salt and press the tobacco down upon it, as in ordinary smoking. The result was very ■atisfactory^: During the process of smoking the salt solidifies, while remaining porous, and when the hardened lump is removed at the end of the day's smoking; it is found to have absorbed so much of the oil of tobacco as tobe deeply colored. The salt should be renewed v- daily.' ::''~' " ' ' ■ W.H.Vanderbilfc, the richest man in the world, is dead. Fifty years ago his father was a poor ferryman and yet he died worth more than any man in the world. He bad £16,000,000 invested in U.iS. Government fours, the quarterly cheque for interest on which amounted to £160,000 and some £30,000,000 invested .in railways. His father Commodore Tanderbilt who died in February 1877 left him £20,000.000 although up to the time of bis death be had never known the luxury of unlimited money. He was ■- ostentatioos, vulgar and uncharitable, the -world loses nothing in his death, and his immense fortune must sooner or later be dissipated.