NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 78, 24 October 1874, Page 7

NEWS IN BRIEF.

It is asserted that but for the Government -expenditure in the Bengal famine, 2,500,000 persons must have died of starvation. By means of the postal service it is calculated that 3,300,000,000 of letters are circulated annually over the globe, or about nine and a quarter millions a day, or 100 a second. After London, Dublin takes the largest quantity of coastways borne coal, the requirements of the Irish metropolis during 1873 being 805,095 tons, while Belfast absorbed 780,940. Next in order came Plymouth, with 355,508 tons; Bristol, with 342,265 tons; and Bridgewater, with 306,355 tons. At a recent sale of the late Mr Sumner's property at Boston, ninety-five dollars were paid for an old Roman lamp, bearing the inscription " The Good Shepherd giveth his life for the Sheep," to which the departed statesman had added — " of all colors." The Chineso have completely domesticated the otter. In that country every fisherman has his otters and cormorants. The otters are trained to hunt in company, to attack, pursue, and seize the fish. Travellers who have fished in China, state tliat they have seen good well-trained otters currently sold for £80. It appears from statistics just published that in England and Wales at the end of last year there were 11,369 miles of railway lines open ; that the total capital paid up, including shares, loans, &c, was upwards of £490,000,000 ; and that the total number of passengers conveyed, including season ticket-holders, stood at upwards of 400,000,000. The total traffic receipts of the year amounted to 27,000,000, the working expenses were nearly £26,000,000, and the net traffic receipts £23,000,000. On condition that Glasgow and the neighboring towns which drain into it defray the expenses, government has consented to appoint there scientific men to inquire into the means by -which the River Clyde may be purified. A laborer named Nolan has been rescued from drowning at Bray, Ireland. He had tied his clothes round his neck with a.loaf of, bread wrapped up in them, and intended, he said, to Bwim over to, England. He was given into custody as a lunatic. A Russian prince named William Radzinol has become a Catholic. In Russia nil converts to Catholicity forfeit their property, and lose all prospects of favors from the government. It is rumoured that Mr J. Martin, the senior member for Meath, will resign his seat in order that Mr John Mitchell may obtain » seat in Parliament. It has been decided by the authorities at the Horse Guards that when the hunting spurs provided for issue to the mounted services for use with the knee boots have been used up, no further supplies of that description of spur will be made, but that all subsequent issues of spurs will be of the swan-neck pattern, which, can be fastened to the heel of the boot. An Indian, named Justiniano Hoxas, aged 122 years, is enjoying the hospitality of the Sisters' Hospital, in Santa Cruz, A novel watch is said to have been invented by a Swiss watchmaker. The motive power is compressed air. The population of Jerusalem is estimated of 19,000, of whom about 5000 are Mahomuietans, from 8000 to 9000 Jews, and the rest Christians of various denominations. One of the severest penalties to which criminals in Scotland were in ancient days condemned was to be deprived of the use of salt. Polo, which has been supposed to be quite a modern, game, is asserted to be almost identical with one that flourished in the twelfth • century amongst the Byzantine aristocracy. It is a popular belief in Spain that a stork's egg is a certain cure for habitual intemperance. Western Australia has a species of eucalyptus, called raspberryjain wood, which derives its name from the similarity of the scent to that preserve. It is a handsome wood, well fitted for cabinet purposes. There is a tradition in the East that when Satan stepped out of the Garden of Eden, after the fall of man, onions sprung from the spot where he placed his right foot, and garlic from that one which his left ono touched. An exhibition of the city of Pompeii, as it was 1800 years ago, is now to be seen in Paris, winding up with an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which is said to be splendid. An American sheriff was lately arrested for stealing a set of harness, which was found in his possession. The police, searching in the slums of Paris, have seized a paste* sold in tin boxes, which, by contact with water, takes fire and burns with great intensity. Every day a student is detailed to watch by the side of the tomb of General Lee, at the Washington Lee University. William B. Astor, the American millionaire, is now over eighty years of age. He is posscsssed of property worth 70,000,000 dollars, or £14,000,000. Mr Sesbohms, one of the chief photographers of the Transit of Venus Expedition on board the ' United States steamer, which arrived at the Bluff on Friday, was compelled to remain at Bahia, Brazil, being unable to continue the voyage on account of protracted sea-sickness. The word " Whig" is said to have originated in England in the sixteenth century, when a party arose who favored a republican form of government. They adopted as their motfco the words "We hope in God," the initials of which form the word "Whig." The word thus means opposition to kings and monarchies. Baron Rothschild, just dead at Vienna., has left the .greater part of his fortune as fixed capital in the bank in which Nathaniel, Ferdiuan, and Albert are partners. It is a singular fact, though not generally noticed, that tho back of one's head in health is warmer to the touch than the forehead. In sickness, vice versa. # Forty-seven thousand Germans have gone back to Pans to live.