Irish News.
New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 41, 7 February 1896, Page 11
About this newspaper
Irish News.
(From contemporaries.)
Antrim.— THE ORIGIN OF PNEUMATIC TYRES.— Very few of the hundreds of thousands of cyclists who now enjoy the pastime on an up-to-date safety, shod with pneumatic tyres, have an idea from what a crude contrivance those same air cushions on their wheels have been evolved. Pneumatic tyres were invented in 1889, by J. B. Dunlop, a horse doctor of Belfast. He had a son who rode a tricycle, and who, by his indulgence, had developed a nervous trouble. The veterinary concluded that the boy's disorder was due ■olely to tbe jolting of tbe wheels, and planned to do away witb the objection, so that the lad might continue his exercise, he hit upon the idea of putting air cushions on the wheels. With only such material as he had at hand for nee in doctoring equine invalids, he set to work. Using a broomstick as a mandrel, he wrapped it spirally with linen bandages. Next he took somn rubber sheets and eolutioned them aronnd the linen. The ends also he fastened with rubber solution. He inserted a valve a little better than a plue, and putting it on wheels started biß son away on the first pneumatic tyres. It was quickly found that the rough and ready style of fabric would not hold air, and so an inner sheath of pure rubber was tried. The valve was Vulcanised to this inner tube in such a way that in the event of any trouble with the valve an entire new air sheath was the only remedy, Flats rims were used at the time, and the tires were fastened to the rim by a strip of muslin which came out with the free edges from the under side of the tyres. These ends were wrapped around the rim and vulcanized to it. The linen completely covered the rim, effectually concealing its material. Tyreß such as these were used for a •couple of years. They weighed from twelve to fifteen pounds a pair, and a puncture in one of them was about as seriuos a matter as a broken frame is at the present time. A MARRIAGE. — The marriage was solemnised, on October 28, of Patrick Rawe and Kite Tubman. of Riverview Cottage, Ballinamore, daughter of James and Catherine Tubman, and sister to the Rev J. Tubmun, S.M., of Timara, New Zealand, and the Rev T. M. Tubman, of Virginia City, Nevada U.S.A. The Rev P. Brady officiated, assisted by Father Tubman, brother of the bride. Belfast.— THE LORD MAYOR.— Tb« new Lord Mayor cf Belfast, Alderman Pirrie, is not merely a director of the great ship. building company of Harland and Wolff, but to all intents and purposes is " Harland and Wolff " Mr Wolff, M.P., who who has been tbe capitalist of the firm, has practically nothing to d> with toe management; and Sir Edward Harlani (now dead) who for long years wa9 the life and soul of tbe business, had retired from active •interference with it. Down.-DEATH OF REV FATHER COSNOR, P P — Tbe death is notified as having occurred recently of the Rev Edward Connor, P.P., Crossgor, County Djwn, one of tbe oldesr prießts in Ulster. Father Connor was ordained in 1842. He hal reached his 79 ih year Dutolin.-JAMES LALOR'S WRITINGS.— In Irish literary circles much interest haß been created by the announcement tb it James L*lor's writings are about to be collected and published. Lalor was, of course, the Irish Tribune of the '48 movement, and he haß been called the father of all modern "land movements." His remarkable writings have hitherto lain buried in the pa?es of two dead-and-gone Irish newspapers. They will ba issued eooa by Mr T G. O'Donogbue, of Dublin, with a preface embodying personal recollections of tbe author, by Mr John O'Leary. There will also be a brief memoir of the writer, and if the volume is successful it will be followed by others of an Irish national character. Kerry.-A DISTINGUISHEDKERRYMAN -The Attorney- General of Illinois, John Moloney, is an Irishman and a Catholic He is said to be the most upright, honest and able Attorney-General the State has ever had. He is six feet two inches in height and has the head and shonlders of a giant. He was born in Kerry in 1849. He Studied for the priestshood at Niagara Seminary, but law was more to his taste, so to law he applied himself and in it be has succeeded beyond all expectation. As Attorney-General of Illinois he has waged relentless war upon trusts. He is the sworn foe of all swindling associations, and the victories which he his won over them has made him the idol of Chicago. Leitrim.— A LEITRIM LEGACY.— The Right Hon John Atkinson, M.P,, tbe Attorney-General, held an inquiry in Dublin Oaßtle tonching olaima upon the bounty of the Crown in respect of the assets of the late Mr Victor Levy De L'Herault, of Shannon Lodge, Carrick-on-Shannon. This is an old case in which the late Captain Cullen and his relatives hare been cruelly wronged. Mr L'Herault was a Frenchman, who was an agent on the St George property. He was married to a relative of Captain Culleu'e, and ■and not having made a will, and having died insane, the Crown captared
all hia property from bis widow, It was twenty five years Id the bands of the lawyeri, who b»v« pone through £10,000 of it in law coits. Mr Tolly, M.P., took np tbe matter last Session, and pressed it upon Mr Atkinson, who kind'y consented to Bee justice done, and the result is the inquiry which has been held. Wiclfclow.-THE LATB IRISH LEADER.— Mr John H. Parnell says of bis brother the great Irish leader: "We did indeed love each other and loved Avondale. He was much affected by small things. He dreaded the Bting of a wasp, but I think be could face a tiger." Another example of the truth that : " The braveit are tbe teaderest ; the gentlest are the daring."
