OMNIUM GATHERUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10761, 27 March 1897, Page 8

OMNIUM GATHERUM.

NEWS AND GOSSIP.

Africa has nearly 700 languages. Vanilla flavouring is obtained from the fruift of an orchid. The game of draughts has been played in Egypt since about 2000 b.c. There is oaly one sadden death among women to every eight among men. About 100.000 tons of fish are yearly sold by the salesmen at Billingsgate Mnrket. The manufacture of jewellery in Birmingham gives constant employment to 14,000 persons. The telegraph messengers in populous French towns U€e bicycles for the distribution of their telegrams. The citizen crank 3 of Kentucky have a law that actions for breach of promise to mtrry shall be tried before & jury of women. - The fastest time in the Dunedin Koad Race was made on a Royal Enfield by Mr P. Ralsfces,and Mr J. A. Young won the O.C.G. Road Race on a bicycle of the came make. Advt. No matter how many orders are received," no beer ever leaves the best Gennaa breweries until it has been standing for at least three months. Millions of men in India live, marry, and rear apparently happy children upon an income, which, even when the wife works, is rarely above half a crown a week. Roses discovered in tombs containing Egyptian mummies often have tbeir cok-urs perfect, even though some of those vhns found "must be over 3000 yrars old. "Henry County." A very fice-fij.voured Aromatic Tobacco, made from the best Carolina leaf, obtainable only from C. BrCKIXSOV Grand Hotel Buildings.—Advt. In London each.day 400 children are born j 250 enter school for the first time; 200 begin their apprenticeship; 150 persons enter married life; and 200 persons die. An instrument basreceutly been invented resercbliog a piano in appearance, but containing six violins, two violas; and two violoncellos, and is manipulated by a key board. The following was the rainfall for February • Auckland, 5 38m ; Wellington, 548 in; Chtistchurch, 2 72in ; Dunedin, 1 59in. Danedia was below the average for the month. Aristotle believed that grey-eyed people had keener sight than those with blue, black, or brown eye*. Scieuce of later years hag demonstrated that this idea was fallacious. A Chiuamaa believes that he can destroy warts on his hands if he steals something. He also thinks that he can cure a colic if he turn; the soles of his shoes uppermost when he go*' to bed. . In proportion to its population the United Kingdom has a greater number of women workers than any country, and among them no fewer than 616,000 are set down as dressmakers. . L T,^ e Dunl°P tyre has undoubtedly proved itself to be the most comfortable and reliable tyre on earth, and is essentially the only tyre which will »taud the wear and tear of New Zealand roads. It is guaranteed for 12 months, and can be procured everywhere —Advfc.

Nimmo and Blair's "Standard" Seeds for preneut «owiug. We will be pleased to seed samples of all agricultural seeds to any address in the colonies. " Standard " Seeas are always reliable. Duuer-in.—Advt. i — Out of 226,000 farms in Denmark only 1900 sre more than 250 acres iv extent.