BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1177, 12 July 1911, Page 8

BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

THE BRITISH CENSUS.

Tt is expected that the returns of iho census taken in April, will show an approximate increase of 5,000.000 in thn population of England and Wales. The full returns will not be ready for another year, but. the provisional returns are now nearly complete. They are being obtained from thn abstract, lists by registrars in the different parts of hngland and Wales. The following figures '.how how the population lias increased since 1S01:—1501. 8,892.536; 1831, 13,896 (1 9,; 1861. 20,066,224; 1891, 29,002,525; 1901. .T'.V27.853; 1911 (approximately), 3i.500,01)U —an increase of IS per crait. on the ugures revealed by tho previous census.

HAREM "SKIRT RIOT. The storv of a harem f-kirt riot in Hydo Park, during which considerable damage was done to the flower-bed?, was told at MhtlborougK SITM-t l'o lc. Court, when George Hunton and Charles Hoffacker were charged with conduct likely to causa a broach of the peace. Inspector Bran stated that about, eight o clock someone raised a cry of "Harem skirt!". appar ; nnlly as a joke. "Tn a few miite ho added, "practically the whole crowd of several thousands round the bandstand were thrown into a state of confusion and disorder. There were three distinct areas of disturbance. In one or them two or three thousand people sinrounded a woman, who had to bo protected by the police and taken away .in a cab. Two other women stood on a cliaii and were pushed over, one of them faint- ■ inc. One voung woman was ehaseil across the lawns. . There was nosigm ot anything resembling a harem skirt, 1W was there even an eccentric hobble. Hunt on and Hoff acker were each fined 405., or one month in default.

J22.000.000 IN DIAMONDS. Great precautions arc being takento guard the ..£2,000,000- worth of dialonds which are on view in the South Afnoan uMing at the Festival of Enipm|. The casket containing, the gems consists of steel walls three inches thick, into v Inch are let three glass windows protected by wire-netting. At night tuuo the collection is placed in a. large steel safe, o\cr Avllich an armed guard has care. KAVAL AIRSHIP. The great naval airship, the Mayfly, i>llß been launched siicepfu ly at Barro • The ship is 512 ft. in length by dSft. m heicht, of a rigid type, containing wenteen gasbags or baloonets,' with a blunt bow ami a pointed needle-shaped steru. The enveloped composed of duralumin, an alloy with the appearance o aluminium and the strength or mild steel. Sh" is of coui-e. inflated with hydrogen and contains the enormous quantity ot 700,330 cubic feet of gas capable of lifting 21 tons. In each of the two |oi do as she carries a 200-h.p. A\ olsr ey-b.-Idele> engine; and she is expected to attain i> spe°ed of from 15 to SO miles an Jour. On the bow gondola there are two fou - bladed propellers, and in the stern goudola a single two-bladed propeller, tto two gondolas will carry a crew of nine men, and they are connected by a coveied, in passage-way. The control of tie ship n the air is secured by vertical rudders above and below the pointed stern and elevating planes on either side «i the I ■stern. At the. bow there arc elevating planes on either side, Mid situated behind the after gondola there is a smallei supplementary rudder.

PILGRIMS , DINNER. Interesting speeches were delivered by a number of nofablo men at (he Pilgrims dinner to the oversea Premiers held at the Savor Hotel. Lord Roberts, in welcoming the representatives of the Dominions, said: "We welcome you as Ministers meeting in conference to consider by what practical measure our common inheritance can be safeguarded against common danger. United wo Hand, divided-we-fall'-that is a maxim the general 'truth of which is reader admitted in all parts of our Empire.

TOWARDS A "WORLD PEACE. Sir Edward Grey, in proposing the toast of "Anglo-American Arbitration, «aid- "Once a treaty of the kind is concluded between any two nations there will be people in other countries who will set themselves to ask whether the time has come when their country might do something of the kind, and if it had.not come, why it had not come. That will Ic3d to a searching inquiry, into tho causes of differences between nations, which will progressively have favourable results. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, in the course of his speech, saidt "I have no hesitation in saying that I am an admirer of the American Republic and the American people, but much as I love the United States I love Britain still more. If the United States suggested to Canada that we should ba annexed our reply would be that of Diogenes to the conqueror Alexander: "Move away and let us have our share of the sun." Oversea Premiers, Ministers. High Commissioners, Agents-General, and other prominent visitors were among {hose present.

HIGH H?ICE FOR A RAEBURN. A Baohurn portrait realised 22..100 guineas at Messrs. Christie's sale, which is the highest price ever paid tor a picture at auction in this country. The nictiirn was a whole-length portrait of Miss ■Robertson, of Lawers, in white dress with pink satin coat, standing in a landscape .and holding her hat by. lonsr crt-y ribbons. Messrs. Duveen Bros, were the purchasers. CADETS REVIEWED. There was an impressive sneetaclo on the pageant ground nt the Cfystnl Pali:ce when, at a naval and military display promoted by the Council of the Festival of Empire, Lord Chnrles licresford, M.1 , ., took (ho saluto from 1500 cadets drawn from the training schools in various parts of the country.' Colonel J. H. Li-e, who has been appointed by. the Australian Commonwealth to inquire into the training of boys in this country, was present. ALL-NIGHT TRAIN SERVICE. .The problem of the great. Coronation, traffic is one which scorns likely ' to be solved successfully by the District Railway. Not only has it been decided to. ruii the service continuously for 24 hours on Coronation Day, but now it has been determined to extend by several hours the service on the two succeeding' day?. On Thursday, June 22, the s-orvice stalls at 3 a.m. and continues till a similar hour the following morning. After a break of only an hour and a half to permit of the inspection of tho liile, the trains will again bo in operation till 1.30 on Saturday morning, an hour later than usual. Tli'is extension of the ordinary liours of running will mean that thousands of people- will be able to slay down town to view the. illuminations until a later hour than would otherwise bo possible, and in order adequately to cope with the rush of traffic, the whole of the trains at the disposal of tho District Ilnihvay will lie engaged, while the stall will work double shifts.

3250 GUINEAS FOR A RING: Tho tr.vedy of a proud Queen and the secret of'the fate of that gallant lover, the J-.nrl of centred in a simple gold ring set with a carved cameo, which was sold tn Ve-rs. Duveen r.rothers, for Lord Michelham, .it Cliristie's. fur WiO jfiiiiieas. It was tho historic Lfsox ving, which Queen l-Uizabeth gave (» ho uoblon.an who dared so much for her sake, with (.he promise that it should be a boon to him if he was in any peril .train his enemies. TWO GREAT EXHIBITIONS. Monitors of the Royal Family havo been busy opening exhibitions.- Princess lonise, the Duchess of Ai-gyll, opened tho International Exhibition ol Ancient Art, a ureal summer attraction aI. hart s Court, where tlisrc is a, valuable, airl striking display'of modern art. Trmci Arthur of omnod the Coronalion Exhibition at. the Wliile City, and duriii" the ceremony the lvarl of Kintore stated that a minimum sum of Ji.JOOO had been guaranteed as a conl.nbul.ion from the exhibition towards the Mansion House Fund for a memorial to King hdward VII.-"Standard of Emiiim.".