FLASHES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11029, 19 August 1903, Page 7

FLASHES.

Delightful change in the weather to-day. Licdcrtai'cl concert to-night at Opera House. • Wanganui Rifles' social and dance this evening. Hockey match, Canterbury v Wanganui to-morrow. Boxiug tournament starts to-morrow night. Another 'sensation in Federal Parliament. 'ihe Lpader of Opposition resigns. " First race of the series for the America Cup to-morro>r. Great interest being taken, in the contests.. Reliance favourite for America Cup contest to-morrow". The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron cabled to Sir Thbmas Liptori wishing him luck. The wording of the message was in Iris,h; and trusted Shamrock 111. would wift. Sir Thomas replied — "Warmest thanks. J Greatly appreciate kind telegram." t As babies . are accustomed to -rocking they are not 'disturbed by the rolling of a shm. and therefore never become sea-sick. Church bells are tuned by chipping the edge until the proper note is obtained. Children under seven years of age arc found almost invariably to prefer 1 yellow to all .other colours. At Swedish weddings among llic middle ,and lovrfer classes ilve bridegroom, carries a whip. This is an emblem of his authority in the* domestic circle. In Russia you must marry before (80( 80 or not at all, and you arc not allowed to marry more than five times. Every ton of Atlantic wator, when . evaporated ', yields 811 bof salt; a ton of Pacific water, 701 b: Arctic and Antarctic waters yield 851 bto the ton; Dead Sea water, 1871 b. The largest telescope in existence docs not make tlic. planet Mars appear any bigger than the moon does through an opera-glass. It is computed by a- German, Dr Haarman." that 247,000 tons of steel mre lost by friction on the world's railways, in a year. Unlf the human race die before they rea'.ih. seventeen , and only one person in 1000 reaches sixty. The amount of b?<*j consumed per yearworks out at a barrel for every inhabitant ' of the British Isles, in addition to a gallon of whisky and 2lb of < tobacco. Three .companies in the Eltltam district * — the Eltham, Kaponga, and Mangatoki — paid to suppliers " during the- season just closed no less a suni than ,£235. 000; Trained falcons, to carry despatches- in t ! me of war, have, ben tested in thr RusKiiin* army. ■ Their' speed is four _ times as rapid a« t}sat of 'parri^r pi-jroons.' In 1 Uio nandy deserts q$ Arabia, whirling I winds sometimes excavate ,pit-k2ool't, .i« I depth, csj.eu.rUng' down to the hardwr ijtrntum on which' the groat bed of sand.rppts. [ -"'Although thorp" art 1 30 palaces belonging to 'the Imperial faniily/in various parts of 1 Japan. -tho' present Emperor has never occupied more Hum three ot four of them. Sbtnc of Ihcm he has never scon. " ; Tlio _ BTaekVall Cont'iiony, shipped -from OroyMiouHj lasi wctek 4521 tons of co«l ancl thft Bnuincr ComiSany 3169 .tons coal and 112 tonti ,coko and bricks.' . ■ • In a. Singapore Police Court waitingroom not long, ago a-.police officer went to flecp, mid on awakening 1 found 'that his shoes, bad been stolen. . A notable discovery pf the 'expedition to Lnko' Chad was a trpenew>*to soipnee, thd wood of which is lighter than cork. . " • . In South Weatland oat sheaf chaff is retailed at fro tn Ids to 12a periling', 'and brfMitl at .Is poi' loaf." The "dea<h-plnnt of Java h;?s flowers which continually give off a perfume co nowerfnl ns to ovorcomo. if inhaled for any leiijfirtlr of. time, a f.ull^grown man, nud which kills all forms of insect life that come under its influence. •In future any holder of tho Victoria Cross who sells it, or loses it. and cannot givo a satisfactory explanation of his loss, will be liable to be deprived of the annuity accompanies it. flus , year' iftcre arc 18 7- ? 3 medwal mm in Frnncr/as against lßjOSl' in the proce;!ing. year. A number of ladie? have presented tho fire" brigade at Summit, New Jersey, with a- huve coftVe urn, mounted on wheels. It will be taken out to big fires to provide the men with refreshment. It has been calculator! that every inch of railway lino in England h«« cost 12s. ; niKi fverv milo £%Q.QQQ. Jt is also said [ that English railways arc three times ;\s co.«tly to build ok those of America. There is a, riisagrepmoot between tlio while siva»« rpcojjtly placorl iit the pirk at Timaru and fhc black swans already living" there. . The feud is so persistent thah it is intended to permanently separate, the two species. 1 ' During a phenomenal tliunderßtoi*m at Oronulla. jST.S.W-., which lasted for an hour, violfliifc <3i««liarTs of lig(itniu' > \ i'ollowod by heavy thnntlrr >\m\ rain. were nl?nosfc incessant, anil tho oarth and dwolHn«rs vrcrr* poreeptiblv shakon.' Soujo "Japinosp jjirls. whon- tho-", dosiro to lo^k extremely captivating, gild their Hps: - ■ . Australians aro trviug hard to obtain n insiH-et in London for tho ppssion fruit, which is so nnnnlar at tho nntrMirlen. A Victoria Cross, awarded to Serjeant 11. Raiuafe, 2nrV Drajroona, for rpscuiui? a romradc in tiro- charge o£ the Li^ht. lingarje, afc Balaclava, was sold at -Sotheby : Rrorontly fnr.^Gl. T» Russian schools pupils aro allowed tr> fhoose between French aud German, and 70 per cent choose German,