NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2451, 8 July 1922, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Admirals, comodores and certain other officers, when boarding vessels of the Fleet are “piped over the side” by the bo’sun, an old Navy custom, the origin of which is unknown. Britain has paid £32,000,000 to France for the use of the French railways and' docks, rent of houses and buildings for billeting, compensation for damages, ‘and rent for trenches during the. war. A panorama painting, the work of 50 artists, showing various points along the battle-front, and 6,000 poi’traits of allied leaders and heroes of the rank and file, is being sent out from Paris on a world tour. There are few trades or crafts in Iceland, every man being compelled to depend upon his own skill for his supplies., The natives make ‘their own canoes, shoe their own horses, and manufacture their saddles.

“Babe Ruth,” the baseball player, has signed a contract for the next three years at a salary of £15,000 a year, with a bonus of £IOO for each home run. He is now said to be the wealthiest atholcte in the world.

The number-of pensions now paid monthly by the Canadian Government is 66,817 of which 47,327 were for disability and 19,040 for death. The total payments for |>ensions to date amount to about £22,720,000. A dam built at great cost seventeen years ago to keep back the waters of lakes in Nontile Vale, near Carnarvon, from flooding slate quarries, has broken under heavy pressure, and the quarries are flooded.

Contracts running into the value of £5,000,000 sterling for the construction of locomotives have been made between British firms and the Roumanian Government. Glasgow builders have secured the lion’s share.

The latest German figures show that Germany lost, out of a total of 13,000,000 soldiers, 1,805,555 killed, and 4,2j46,779 wounded. On the basis that the war lasted 1,623 days, it is estimated that every hour 46 were killed and 109 wounded.