SCISSORS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4289, 27 April 1885, Page 4

SCISSORS.

Thirty million rabbits and hares arc killed every year in England. Iv ISB3 there Avero 10, ISo bankruptcies in England, in ISSI there Avere only 3721.

The average price of Avhettt iv England m 188-1 Avas 35s 8d per quarter. California's yield of Avinc is fifteen millions of gallons.

Half the cottem raised in India is exported to England. Binco lH'o'.i tiiu output of coal in the United States litis increased from si.xtccu million tons to ninety million tons.

The total factory steam power in tho world is represented by 7,0U0,UU0 horsepower ; one-third is British. Less avool AVtts imported into England in 188-i than in 18SU or 1881, the fulling off in value exceeded two million pounds sterling.

In ISS2 in England 6,2-11 patents were applied for, in 1881, the first year of the new patent laws, 17,110 patents Avero applied for. Lontlon paupers huvc dcc.ieased during the last ten years one-third in numbers, hut their cost iv the same period has increased one-half.

Fifteen per cent of tho analyses made in England in 1881 shoAved adulteration. After spirits, milk shoAved the greatest amount of adulteration.

A farmer in the lower parts of East Lothian (Scotland), Avhosc lease is about half run, has agreed to pay ,£louu to the laud for liberty to quit his holding. A well known scientific man has given an order to a Liverpool dealer for a hundred specimens of the electric eel, for tho purpose of studying its remarkable poAver of imparting a shock to human beings. The tAvo-headed Nightingale, Miss -or Misses—Millie Christine, who is again in London, is saidlomako an income as large as as the Prime Minister's by exhibiting herself

The average rain fa II on Dartmoor is upward of 75in annually, or more thiin three times that of London. A similar downfall is experienced on the average in the hillier parts of Wales and Cumberland. Truth boldly aud sensibly says:--" Our occupation of Egypt means what it always has ncant —that we are to maintain an army there to sec that Shylook gets his pound of flesh."

NeA\ r s reached the quarters of the -Mi Dragoon Guards of the death of BrevetHassey, Avhohud volunteered for service in the Soudan, but died of heart disease before he reached Malta.

One of the greatest astronomical Avorks of the century has just left the printers in England —namely, X>r. Ounlil's voluiuinoos catalogue, dealing- with 73,000 stars in the southern hemisphere. The catalogue has

taken Dr Gould, with tho help of five assistants 14 years to compile. The ltussiau Ministry have promulgated a rescript requiring tho dismissal of all foreign officers and employes of the railroads. Large numbers of Englishmen, more especially engineers, have for many years been employed on tho various Russian railAvay systems.

" According to the Revue Industriellc a commissioner has lately been appointed by the Socicte Industriellc de France with the object of enquiring into the feasibility of shortening the daily hours of labor in the textile anel collateral industries. At present the hours throughout Franco arc rarely, if ever, under 12 per day, Avhile in Germany they are still longer, being l-'J at Dusseldbrf, 13 to 15 at, Treves and Aix-la-Chapelle, and even 10 in Franconia—this, too, Avithout deductions for Sundays and holidays. After mature consideration, hoAVCA-'er, the committee have come to the determination that it is impossible torecommend the reduction, in face of the great competition from England and Germany. _ An appendix to the reports of the Chief Registrar of British Friendly Societies for the'ycar 18SM giA-os the number of trade unions in England and Wales as 210, Avilli a total amount of funds of £820.587, an annual income of £350,25G, and 210,053 members. In Scotland there Avere fourteen societies, with £10.901 in funds, an annual income of £12,301, and 12,0-10 members. In Ireland thero Avere tAvcnfy-tAvo societies, with £30SS in funds, £7091' yearly income, and 3100 members.

Till lately Bishop Lightfoot has been the only unmarried bishop, but the recent appointments of Canon Licldon to the Sec of Salisbury, and of Canon King to that of Lincoln," afford us tho unusual spectacle of three bachelors in the Anglican Episcopate. All the traditions of tho Church of England recognise matrimony as inseparable from episcopacy, ami the undivided enjoyment of these honors by three contemporaries is probably Avithout parellel for some generations. When the late General Gordon Avas serving in tho Crimea with the Engineers three young officers came under his notice avlioso intrepidity excited his attention and admiration. Thirty years- have passed, and in the meantime these three, Lieutenants Wolscley, Roberts, and Stewart, have distinguished themselves and become famous. Lord Wolscley is commanding tho expcclitiem originally planned to release Gordon from Khartoum. The van of the advancing arrnv ay.-is held braAxly by Sir Herbert SteAvart until he fell at Gubat, and the third lieutenant is Sir Frederick Roberts, Avho is at present holding high command in India.