GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11950, 26 April 1902, Page 5 (Supplement)

GENERAL NEWS.

L-C.C. CHAIRMANSHIP. The annual statutory meeting of the London County Council was held a few days ago at Spring Gardens, the first business being to elect the chairman, vice-chairman, find deputy-chairman for the ensuing twelve months. ' Lord Gairirgton, having congratulated Mr. Torrance, the retiring chairman, on the hatisfoction he had given to both sides of the house, said lie believed in Mr. .John McDougall they had a colleague who had all the necessary qualifications, and lie lad the greatest pleasure and confidence in proposing him for the highest position in the Council. Mr. Hubbard seconded the motion, which was supported by Mr. Campbell, and carried unanimously. Mr. McDougall, on being escorted to the (hair, was loudly cheered, and, in returning thanks, said one o f the most important functions which the Council would have to perform during his year of office would ,bo to assist in the coronation of the Sovereign. Mr. Cornwall moved that Lord Monkswcll be the vice-chairman. Sir Algernon West seconded the motion, which was also carried unanimously. ■ Mr. Alliston proposed Mr. Henry Clarke as deputy-chairman. Mr. Dobson seconded the motion, which was carried. sister's fearful vigil.

A gruesome story comes from Wells, Norfolk. Two women, named Claxton, resided in a cottage in the main street of the town, and their eccentric conduct attracted the notice of the neighbours. As the occupants refused to have any communication with the outside world the" police broke into the house and discovered the dead body of the ycunger sister, Florence Margaret Claxtou, "dressed and in a reclining position on an improvised couch in the living-room near the fire. The elder sister, who is in weakhealth, when questioned by the police, said her sister was not dead but only sleeping, and would soon Make up. She had been keeping her warm .-aid watching by her side night and day. The doctor stated at the inquest that, deceased had been dead quite three or four weeks, possibly longer, and evidence was given that the women were believers in Spiritualism. A verdice of " Death from natural causes on or about February 6" was returned. \

TUB KAISER'S PET AVERSION. Berlin, March 12.—The growth of the German Socialist Party has been quite extraordinary during the last two decades. At the Reichstag election of 1880 the Socialists obtained 312,000 votes; in 1884, 550,000 ; in 1887, 763,000 in 1890, when the Socialist vote first exceeded that obtained by any other party, 1,427,000; in 1893, 1,787,0*00; and in 1898, 2,107,000. Ah regards the approaching elections the party" leaders reckon on an increase of about 1.000, voles, which would give the Socialists over 100 seats, and therefore by far the strongest position in the German Parliament. MALE TASTES IN BEAUTY. Maidens who have passed their thirtieth year may now claim that they represent the most perfect and advanced type of maidenhood, and look down upon girls who marry before twenty-five as very much more akin to savages, for it is a well-known fact that the age of marriage advances with civilisation. Everywhere the most mature woman is to the fore. The tastes of men in this regard seem to have undergone a complete revolution, and instead of fluttering about the inexperienced girl, talking pretty nothings, they are matching their experiences, broadening' their horizon, sharpening their wits in clever conversation with some brilliant and beautiful woman.Health. YOUNG HUSBAND GIVES HIMSELF TO FOR WIFE MURDER. A shocking murder has been committed at Gateshead. A young man named Thomas W. Wrightson, 27, a timekeeper, residing at Fulleiton Place, Carr's Hill, went to P.O. Joseph Graham, who was on duty at the foot of Wellington-street,' and asked to be arrested, stating that he had murdered his wife. The constable took him to the Central Police-station and then went to the house indicated, where he found Mrs. Wrightson lying dead on the floor of the kitchen. She appeared to have been struck on the head with a hammer, and her throat was cut. No reason is assigned for the deed, but the man, who was much distressed, had been out of work for six weeks. Mrs. Wrightson, who was about the same age as her husband, leaves a family of five young children. At the Police Court, it was stated that deceased was a descendant of Grace Darling, the heroine of the Longstone Lighthouse. MR. BALFOUR'S ALLEGED INDIFFERENCE. Instead of being an indifferentist there probably never was a statesman with a keener or more alert mind, or one more' deeply interested in all political and social problems of the day. His is essentially a quick and ready intelligence, receptive as well as vigorous and eager. But at the same time it is a mind of singular critical capacity. Mr. Balfour has no doubt shown himself again and again indifferent to bores, and to the causes and ideas which they represent. Put not to suffer bores gladly, or at any rate not to pretend to do so, is one of the worst mistakes which a politician can commit, for the bores are a strong and powerful clan. They. hate Mr. Balfour very bitterly.—Spectator. SIX HUNDRED MILES AN* HOUR. It is difficult to account for the enormous velocity of some birds' flight when migrating. The northern blue throat goes at the rate of 540 miles an hour, Hying 4800 miles from Egypt to Heligoland'in a spring night of barely nine hours. Virginian plover fly from Labrador to North Brazil, 9600 miles, without stopping, going at the rate of 636 miles in an hour, and probably more. How can this speed be attained? The birds resort to great heights, where the resistance of the air is slight.—Nature Notes. HARD LABOUR FOR HOGUS V.C. For impersonating Isaac Lodge, V.C, who distinguished himself at Sanna's Post, a man named William Parr was at the Central Criminal Court, London, sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour. Parr, to substantiate his story, had forged papers showing that he was entitled to a sum of £65 from the War Office. By this means he induced people to give him money, food, and lodgings. For a similar offence Parr had, been previously court-martialled, sentenced to 112 days' hard labour, and dismissed the army with ignominy. He rejoined the army, but afterwards deserted. Mr. Graham Campbell, who prosecuted for the Treasury, said prisoner had never been to the front ; he was an impostor.

LONDON" TO niKNTVGTTAM BY AIRSHIP FOB £4000.

M. Santos-Dumont, the daring inventor of the steerable airship, which doubled the Eiffel Tower and which subsequently came to grief in the Bay of Monaco, has been in London lately. It is his intention to make ascents in the metropolis, and a big prize has now been offered to spur him on to greater efforts. We are informed that through the Aero Club Mr. C. A. Pearson has offered M. Dumont a prize of £4000 to make a flight in his airship from London to Birmingham. The offer was at iirst tajStde directly to the. aeronaut, but, in compliance with M. Dumont's special wish, Mr. Pearson then offered the prize to the Aero Club, to be competed for openly, as in the case of the Deutsch prize, which was of the same amount. The flight will not be subject to the same conditions, however, and there will be no time limit. The omission of this condition accords with M. Santos-Dumont's own wishes, for it is the time limit which is productive of most of the accidents which have occurred. M. Dumont has not yet attempted so long a flight, the distance being about a hundred miles. M. Dumont has left Paris for good. He is considerably aggrieved by his treatment in Paris. He has arranged to come to London at the end of March. The Aero Club will organise all the ascents M. Dumont will make in England.

A heavy shower at Tillers Ferry, South Carolina, brought down hundreds of small fishes, which, according to Mr. Gardner, in the United States Monthly Weather Review, swam about in the pools among some Cottonwood trees.

Eggs Cornered Report from New York says "45 millions are stored in New Jersey." " Don't want 'em hero"—mixed already. Uso Custard Powder. Tucker's always fresh. 6d box.

Wade's Worm Figs, the wonderful worm worriers, are a safe and sure remedy; in Is boxes; sold everywhere. _ .