FRAGMENTS OF FACT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1367, 12 May 1898, Page 10

FRAGMENTS OF FACT.

Keys of brorza and iron bave been found in Greece and Italy dating from at least the seve-ith century before Christ. The cinematograph registers slow as well as rtpi-1 motion, and a camera has been madd to register the growth of plants.

The earliest complete clock of which an accurate record exists was made in the thirteenth century by a Saracen mechanic. The prefix " 0 " before so many of the names of liish families is an abbreviation of the word "oghi," meaning grandchild. Statistics show that in London one person in 45 is maintained by public charity, while in New Yjik the proportion is one in 200. Golf can positively be traced in Scottish history back to 145?, and it is believed to have been played much earlier even than that d*te. Schools for children of railway employee are maintained by the railway companies of India, at a very small expense to the pupils. The oldest Nonconformist minister in Wales is reported to be the Rev. Thomas Hughe?, of Machynlleth, who entered the ministry in 1822. Judgiug by the return of passengers landed at New York during the past year, the Transatlantic steamers have had a very poor twelve months.

Rats haee been known to feed on landcrabs. They drag the latter into their holes, and, biting off thtir legs and claws, render them helpless and an easy prey. E*ch policeman in the Metropolitan and City of London forces is estimated to cost on an average about £9B per annum, and he arrests about nine persons a year.

One who saw the eclipse says that with no great stretch of the imagination it was possible to conceive the Sun as engaged in a death struggle with some . terrible adversary.

The British Army rifle has 82 component parts, in the production of which 952 machines are employed, as well as various processes which do not require machinery.

Fogs are said to be great purifiers of the atmosphere. There is a belief that smoke m*y be turned into a hygienic ally, and may be made to preserve the public health. According to the .Hub, Sir Andrew Reed, the chief of the Royal Irish Constabulary, has recently issued a circular, in his own name, permitting cyclists to use the public footpaths in Ireland. An automatic electric music leaf-turner is one of the latest patents. It is claimed for it that it can be easily attached to any piano music-rack, and it ia operated by touchirg a bu'ton with the foot. discoveries of amber have recently been made in British Columbia, ivhich it is claimed will be able to supply the pipe-makers of the world with amber for another hundred years.

Belgium is the home of the racing pigeon. There the sport is a national pastime, and a good pigeon frequently wins for its owner large sums of money, the prizes being considerable, to which heavy pools are added. , All the suitors for a girl's band in Borneo are expected to be generous in their presents to her. These presents are never returned ; therefore the wily young Udy defers as long as possible a positive selection of the happy man. The French language, it appears, ia better adapted to the purpose of the telephone t ! an the' English Ic is stated th*t ih* Urge number of sibiknt or hiasiiiS B)'!ltb*s in English renders it a less easy and accurate means of communi-

cation. ■ The late Mrs Oliphanfc could nob tolerate the idea of machine-made clothes on babies or ladies. Mr George Darling, the brother and only surviving relative of Grace Darling, is 80 years of age. The Duke of Norfolk is saMi*> have spent more money on buildir§€han any other Englishman now living. According to Sir F. Milner, M.P.,. the bitterness which used to be associated with politics is dying out. According to Mr Cecil Rhodes, Rh-deaia cannot be gyvemttl hum a Colonial office 8000 miles away. Canada is talking about contributing a yearly sum towards maintaining a traming ship in Canadian waters. Less J;obacco is consumed in Great Britain in proportion to the inhabitants, than in any other civilised country. Hardly one of the men of mark con. , uected wiih Birmingham during the last ' twenty years, has besu native fc> m Glt &