Chapter M: DE LESSEPS declares that the Panama Canal will be opened in July,

1890.

SINCE the beginning of her reign, Queen Victoria has been paid approximately L30,000,000 by her subjects.

THE daily consumption of needles in America is said to be 4,200,000, most of which come from Redditch, England.

THERE are 3,100 Smiths enrolled in the city directory of Philadelphia. There are 250 John Smiths and 310 William Smiths.

CAPTURE OF A SWORD FISH.--A specimen of the sword fish was captured, a week or two ago, in Long Reach, Milton Creek, Sittingbourne, by a bargeman. The fish measured 5 ft. 2 in. from end of tail to tip of sword.

CAROLINE HERSCHEL, the accomplished partner of her brother's astronomical labours, never could remember the multiplication table, and always had to carry a copy of it about with her.

THERE are now in the United Kingdom 1,350 workmen's retail stores, with nearly one million members, and a capital of L9,000,000, besides some millions on deposit. The sales last year to members were over L25,000,000, with L3,000,000 profits.

VALUABLE REMEDY FOR ERYSIPELAS.--One handful of sage, two handfuls of elder leaves, one ounce of alum. The whole of the foregoing to be boiled in a quart of iron water from the blacksmith's forge, until reduced to a pint. To be used as a wash.

THOMAS EMMITT, a man employed on the permanent way of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, has received intimation that a gold medal will be presented to him for his bravery in jumping on to a runaway engine at Blackburn, and stopping it.

IT is said that, in 1887, no fewer than 22,131 human beings died from snake-bite in India, and the number of cattle killed by snakes was 2,514; 417,596 snakes were destroyed, and 25,360 rupees were paid by the Government as rewards for their destruction.

THE question of the Sunday opening of libraries is being excitedly agitated in Bolton. A week or two ago Lord Hobhouse addressed a meeting, presided over by the Vicar, in favour of opening, and quoted a letter in support from the Bishop of Manchester. The clergy of the diocese have organized an opposition, the Vicar standing alone in support of the opening, and recently, at a large gathering, a resolution against opening was carried with the wildest enthusiasm, an amendment by a leading Socialist being defeated.

THE probabilities of there being large coal deposits under London are discussed at considerable length by a correspondent of the _Times_. The speculations of geologists on the subject have recently been much assisted by several deep borings, the principal of which have been those of Kentish Town.

A BOAT drifted from its moorings off Camia; a fishing village nine miles from Boulogne, on Tuesday evening, October 16th. An old fisherman, named Charles Coffier, was the only person on board, and he had nothing to eat for four nights and three and a half days, when the boat was driven by a breeze into Hastings.

THE Queen reads, or rather, has read to her, the _Times_ and the _Morning Post_ every morning. Copies are sent direct to her, printed on specially thick paper. Her secretary goes through them, marks with a blue pencil all the important items, and these are then read to her by the two ladies who officiate as readers.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY, MILTON STREET, HOLLINWOOD, LANCASHIRE.--This was held on October 14th, when two sermons were preached, morning and evening, by Mr. D. Smith, of Halifax, and an address was delivered by Mr. J. Holgate, of Burnley, special hymns being sung by the scholars. The congregations were good, and the services were much appreciated. The collections amounted to L13 14s. 11d.