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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11604, 19 March 1901, Page 5

Apropos of London's future requirements of water, statisticians are asking themselves ™kA , W A II bo the Population of London in 19bu l On their answer will depend the action of Parliament, in regard to the new Water Bills. Thus, it seems, Royal Commissions and experts have put the figure at anything from 15,000,000 to 30,000,000. Other authorities denounce these conjectures as ■ absurd, and an increase to 12,000,000 is predicted as the more likely inflation. Yet another eminent statistician argues that a limit is placed on all sublunary things, and that the breaking point in London's growth will bo reached when her children number 8,000,000.

A peculiar old man. has died at Vienna in his 73rd year. He died with the reputation of being the most exaot man on record. From his 27th year ho kept accurate account of all he bought and what he paid for it. In the 27 years of his eonvival life he consumed 28,786 glass of beer. He gave up drinking in his 54th year, but he continued to smoke constantly, even during his last sickness, raising the number of his cigars to 628,713, or an average of 13,667 a year. Of the whole number, some 43,500 were- given to him; he bought tho rest for £2500, or about a penny each.

The famous. Boer Long, Tom, which the bluejackets smashed at the siego of Ladysmith, bis been sent to Woolwich. Bearing it company was a Krtipp 12-poundor field gun, which was captured from the Boors and has been sent from South Africa for Lord Roberts. It is covered with bullet marks, which have ploughed their way through the felloes of the wheel, through the ammunition carriers, and other parts of the carriage.. Further grim evidence of how hotly war has been waged round this particular gun is furnished by the blood marks on the wheels and limber. :

Tho Mansion House Transvaal war fund now amounts to £1,078,800. -fhis includes £37,000 raised in response to the Princess of Wales' appeal. Somo remarkable figures have come to light regarding the value of the estates of officers who have been killed in South Africa. The aggregate gross value of the estates ..of 107 officers who have died in South Africa since the war '-'.began; in October, 1899, is a little over £3,000,000. with an average of about £28,350 each. Six estates account for £1,643,961 of the total of three millions. • To give an idea of the value of somo of the ; estates distributed as a result of tho war, it may be mentioned that the late Marquis of Winchester left £377,156; Major Childo, £108,256 Lieutenant McCorquodale, £123,373; Major Blount, £63,000;'■'. Lieutenant the Hon. Hugh Lygon; £43,D0Q; Captain Buohan, £211,982; Baron . Kensington, £711,218: : and, Major-General Waucliohe, £82,742,. :....;■ f -.. -'^\