GENERAL NEWS

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXV, Issue 4253, 29 June 1895, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

Some Paris insurance companies refasa to insure people who use hair dye. Canada is said to be the only civilised country in the world without a divorce court. A lady had the wrong tooth pulled by an English dentist recently, and she recovered £100 damages. It is estimated that £2,250,000 worth of German toys are annually sold in Britain. Obligatory vaccination in Switzerland has been submitted to » popular referendum in the canton of Berne. It has been rejected by 24,000 votes against 23,000. About £150,000 a year is paid in pensions to British soldiers, widows and allowances to their children. The Shah of Persia has a pony only two feet high. English has 1,000,000 persons who are either paupers in workhouses, criminals in prisons, homeless in great cities, or wanderers. For the better practice of physical exercise amongst Board-school children, the Education Department of England has ruled that the public funds can be ex- ! pended in the purchase of footballs, skipping ropes, and other adjuncts t» suitable games. The number of medical students in the United States is increasing enormously. In 1892 there were 15,339 students in the 98 public and private colleges, and nearly 18,000 in the 117 public and private colleges. In 1894 the number had risen to 17,701 in the public colleges, 21,186 in the publio and private. In England there were at the same period about 7000 medical students. At Wellington a few days ago the constable in charge of the botanical gardens there recently reported to his superior officer that he had found a woman about twenty-five years of age, with a three year old child, camped in the Bcrub in the garden, under a shelter made of old sacks. They were taken to the benevolent home. Their condition was deplorable. The woman's only covering was one outer garment and a chemise, wnilafi the infant was still less protected against the weather. Both were terribly emaciated and were covered with vermin. The history of their case is not yet unravelled, but it appears that the woman came from Timaru, and was sent to Wellington a few weeks ago by a friend at Ly ttelton. Since her arrival in Wellington she has it is said, begged through the Thorndon end of the city for her daily sustenance.