INTERESTING ITEMS.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 6, 11 September 1906, Page 2

INTERESTING ITEMS.

There are 10,000 lepers i* the Philippine Islands. Chrysanthemums were cultivated in China before the eleventh century, * A meteor whose weight is estimated at fifty tons recently fell in Mexico. Valuablo dogs are often vaccinated, as these animals are quite susceptible to small-pox. Mr. J. Chamberlain made his first speech in the House of Commons eight days after taking his seat. The finest shops in a Chinese city are those devoted to the sal# of coffins. At a Japanese banquet i( is c#nsidored a compliment to exchange cups with a friend. An authority on physical culture says that dancing is one of the most healthful modes of taking exercise. Considerably over thirteen million pounds’ worth of postage stamps are sold in England in the course of a year.

Conscription takes place in Russia annually between November 1 and December 15, and those required to complete the active army are chosen by lot. * Ely is the only cathedral in existence t-liat has a Gothic dome. It is 170 ft. high. * The penalty in. Germany for adulterating food six months in prison and a fine of £75. California has the smallest horse in the wottd. U is only 22. inches high and weighs 70 pounds whan shod. By using soap and water on an oilstone, as a substitute for oil, a smoother and finer edge can be given to knives and wood-working tools. -— •b — ■ Varnish should not be thinned with turpentine. It reduces the gloss, and if tbe turpentine has been 1 adulterated with mineral oil injure* the varnish. * Ammonia vapour has been discovered to be the best disinfectant for use in cases of cholera or diphtheria. It.w'iLl free a room from germ# in two hours. Wood can be made to last longer than iron if treated according to the following linseed oil stir pulverised coal until the mixture is of the consistency of paint. Put a coat of this over the timber. A novel and somewhat scientific method has recently been devised for the Government railways of Switzerland to determine the half fare limit for children. Instead dt an age