NEWS IN BRIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21876, 11 August 1934, Page 1 (Supplement)

NEWS IN BRIEF

Tusks of tlie male African elephauti usually weigh about 401b. About 95 per cent of the world's population lives north of the Equator. Four blind typists are employed by the London County Council at the County Hall. ; Of the new recruits to the British Army only 10 per cent have been trained in a skilled occupation. A will, inscribed in the rung of a ladder, disposing of £3OOO, has been filed in Los Angeles Probate Court.

British insurance companies havs, at present, no fewer than 85,000,000 industrial insurance policies in force. A succulent seaweed, rich in calcium and iodine, and on this account a strong body-builder, is being canned in Wales. Farthings are used in the post offices in Britain in giving change to purchasers of postcards and lettercards.

The colossal statue of " Sleeping Ariadne " in the Vatican is believed to be the world's only marble figure with eyelashes.

A certain species of goat, raised in the United States, becomes paralysed when suddenly -frightened, and falls in a faint. Bandsmen of the Salvation Army total about 46,000. Not only are they unpaid, but they have to provide their own uniforms.

Springs so delicate that _ they are moved by the weight of a hair five onehundredths of an inch long have been mado in America.

Fire does not decrease the weight of all things which it burns. The ashes of magnesium, for example, are . heavier than the metal itself. A new metallic foil made of aluminium has such good heat-insulating qualities that a layer of it is equal to thirteen inches of brick. That is it unlucky to cut the hair and nails before the moon is past the full is a superstition that still prevails in many country districts in England.

The world's oldest cab-rank is to be found opposite Somerset House, in the Strand, London. Hackney coaches were stationed there 300 years ago. Some cold-blooded animals can live without food for unbelievably long periods. Snails sometimes do not eat anything for five year, at a time.

It takes a swarm of 15,000 or more bees to produce about 40 pounds of honey in a normal season; the working life of a bee only lasts some six weeks.

Separation or maintenance orders to the number of 17,000 are granted ; n British courts each year. This is about four times the number of divorce decrees. f

England has nearly twice as many vehicles per mile of roadway us the United States, and from four to seren times as many as other European countries. i

Of every 1000 square miles in Africa to-dav, France governs 366, Great Britain 348, Belgium 81, Portugal 69, Italy, 59, Egypt 31. Abyssinia 31, Spain 12* Liberia 3.

Scientific investigations show that about 10,000 persons with negro blood " pass the colour line " in the United States each year and become members of white society.

Building schemes to the total value of £35,000,000 are to be put in hand by local authorities all over Britain. These include dwelling houses to the value of £23,000,000.

The record large family circle in England is most probably that of Mr. Hendren, of Wimbledon. There are 120, including, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A London fishmonger who met with' an accident outside Charing Cross Hospital, and was successfully treated there, went back the other day with a thank-offering—four dabs. In his palace in Surakarta, Java, the Sultan of Solo maintains a household of 15,000 persons—wives, paramours,dancing girls, relatives, priests, soldiers, local officials and servants.

Osmium, a very hard metal used largely in making gold pen-points, is the heaviest substance in the world; it weighs 1404 pounds per cubic foot, or 98 per cent more than lead. Workers in radium mines at Jacymov, Bohemia, have an average life of only 37 years. Death is due to the powerful radium emanations which, despite all precautions, end in.cancer.

The Kaffirs of South Africa, have a naive method of cleansing the blackened name of a thief. They shout it into a kettle of hot, medicated water, clap down the lid, and let it soak for several days.

A wicked eye—good legs—an apache , voice—fluffy hair—an expressive foot. These are the bare necessities, according to Mistinguett, the famous French comedienne, for success on the music hall stage.

Nutria farming is proving successful in Surrey, nutria being a species of swamp beaver from South America, resembling a cross between a large rat and a porcupine, and highly valued for its fur. ~

One of the most astonishing cases of abnormal human growth was that of a girl exhibited before the Physical Society of Vipnna, in 1894. Although only five years of age, she weighed 250 pounds.

Chairs to the number of 150,000 arr> placed in the Royal Park in London for the use of the public on a payment of 2d. There are also a certain number of seats for which no charge is made.

London is one of the cleanest cities in the world, according to an American expert, who places ahead of it only Munich. There people who throw away litter in the streets are fined on the spot. All the meat produced in Great Britain and Ireland and available for London is only sufficient to supply the metropolis' '8,000,000 people with 3.20z5. of beef, 2.90z5. of mutton and lamb and 2.60z5. of pork a week. A fearless man is wanted by M. Max Oosyns, one-time assistant to Professor Piccard, to accompany him on a new stratospheric balloon voyage. The man must be young, " with first-class scientific knowledge and no nerves." No fewer than 2600 fingerprints were taken by the" police of Prague to trace a murderer, tho only clue to whose identity was a fingerprint on tho windowsill of the victim's house. A scientific sifting of tho results brought them their man.

Ratepayers in England and Wales paid £147,700,000 in the year 1933-34. This was an increase of £1,450,000 011

the previous twelve months. It is the first increase since the slump in

trade. In 1929 the figure stood at £166,460,000. Damage done, by lipstick to frocks being tried on by mannequins and customers have caused some London dressmakers to introduce a_ " lipmask," a paper shape covering the mouth, with a projection behind to be gripped 1 between the teeth. Penholders - and stainless-steel nibs provided in post offices are popular "loot" with the publio. Of 1900 holders and 9000 nibs provided m 75 of the largest offices in London, only 700 penholders and about 1800 nibs remained at the end of a month.