One Thing and Another.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 787, 1 April 1887, Page 6

One Thing and Another.

Real estate auction sales in London last year fell off about £400,000 from those of 1885. The consumption of alcohol in England has decreased 30 per cent in the last ten years. Imports of live s*ock and fresh meat from the United States and Canada into England are increasing. The new Russian magazine rifle now being tried is stated to be capable of twenty shots a minute. England is going into all kinds of jointstock schemes."” The people are biting at the most absurd baits. Since the abolition of the French law requiring a license for wine shops in 1880 the number has increased by 40,000. A monument to the memory of James Watt is to be erected at Greenock, the birthplace of that illustrious inventor. The iron.workers of South Staffordshire are striking against the system of payment of wages in provisions known as the •* truck system.’ A patent has been taken out in Germany for an apparatus producing artificial fog, which surrounds plants and protects them from frost.

A son of Rachel is going to Africa with M. De Brazza, the explorer. It is remembered that the great actress died praying for her two boys. Fifty years ago it was a capital offence for a Chinaman to be a Christian. Missionaries are now permitted to proselytiz6 in all parts of the empire. The exportation of English hops to America during the four months ending December 31st was the largest that has been known for a long series of years. Captain Matthews, U.S.N., in his report of his journey in Persia, says that with the Persians America goes under the general name of Gangeedonia, or New World. The Lord Mayor of Dublin announces the receipt of lOdols from a New Yorker,_ which sum, the sender said, was to be applied * in any way that will annoy Great Britain.’ The income tax returns for the past year show that Krupp, the gun manufacturer, pays taxes on £250,000, the highest income of any one individual in Germany.. Rothschild and Bleichroder rank next, with about £125,000 each. Savings banks deposits and depositors continue to increase in Paris, notwithstanding the hard times. - In the course of last year the depositors increased from 516,919 to 531,270, and thedepoaits from 111,824,554 f to 117,216,215 f. At the Tribunal de Commerce, Paris, a new voting urn has been tried, and, as is reported, successfully so. The machine is so constructed as to have the ballot papers dropped into it, set a spring in motion,, which accurately counts the votes in plain sight of the bystanders. Gen. Boulanger's attempt to introduce the full beard into the French army has not been successful. At a recent banquet only two young generals appeared, like Boulanger, with full beards. The moustache and imperial or moustache alone is still the only adornment worn bv the French soldier.

The Marquis of Bath has completed negotiations for the sale of his estate in county Monaghan to.tenants at 17i years’ purchase. All evicted tenants will be reinstated and entitled to purchase, the costs of transfer being paid by the Marquis, and no arrears beyond one year to be charged.

A novel sort of protective duty is being advocated in England, and it is stated that it may possibly be adopted. It is proposed to impose a tax of 25d01s a year upon all foreigners working in England. It is estimated that the tax would yield about 2,500,000d01s a year and would fall principally upon Germans. The British Government has leased the Burmese ruby mines, which have just been occupied by troops, to Streeter, the jeweller of Bond street, London, at a rental of £30,000. One of his representatives accompanies the troops. The question of the proprietorship of Burmese individuals will probably be raised in Parliament. On the Transcaspian Railroad, in Russia, it is claimed that a saving of 800dols per mile is effected by the use of mineral wax, or ozokerite, for ties. When purified, melted and mixed with limestone and gravel,, the ozokerite, which is abupdant in the vicinity of the railroad, verylgood asphalt. This is pressed into shape in boxes, and gives ties which retain their form and hardness even in the hottest weather. An . English gentleman has secured the services of thirteen clever boys drawn from all ranks of society. These are now being educated in a most peculiar manner for work among the poor of the east of London. The boys are taught whist, billiards, fencing, gymnastics and secrets of skilled labor, the dignity of which is impressed upon them with the necessity of helping others less fortunate than themselves.