SCIENCE SIFTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 24, 27 January 1906, Page 10

SCIENCE SIFTINGS.

; TEMPERING GOLD AND SILVER. Mr Z. P. Vaughan, a citizen of Los Angelos, has discovered a means of tempering gold (says the "Liverpool Post"). He has been at hie experiment some 20 years, he says, and has spent quite a fortune at it. sfow that he hae succeeded, he has made a hypodermic needle of the substance, and has presented it to the local museum. Mr Vaughan also claims that he can temper silver and copper, and that he is able to make even razors and carving knives oi these metals. Pocket knives of gold are to be made for young lad* ies, and complete sets of cutlery can be made from a thousand pounds upwards. President Roosevelt is to be presented with one of the first sets.

RAILWAY MOTORS. It has long been recognised that a wide field of profitable work has been opened for motors in connection with Efritish railways. The earliest steam motor seen on a British railway began regular -working in June, 1903, on the Fratton and Southsea line of the London and South Western Railway. It was designed by Mr Dugald Drummond, and proved so successful that numerous other Tail motor services have been introduced or sanctioned, for which, an improved type of motor has been designed by Mr Drummond. It seats eight first class passengers and thirty two third class passengers. The total "length, of the car is 51ft 2Mn, and it may be driven from either end. When empty the vehicle weighs 31 tons llcwt.

THE HIPPO. ON THE ZAMBESI. Members of the British Association who recently visited the Victoria Falls (says "Nature") will be interested to learn that the small'herd of hippopotami that frequents the islands above the Falls, and adds substantially to the attractions of the place, has again become troublesome. Apparently the animals have been irritated by the increasing traffic on the Zambesi; for a note in "South Africa" of November 18 states that several boats have been upset, csfusing one fatality and several narrow escapes. "Hippo, from any sentimental point of view," it is remarked, "are hardly the sort of things to be preserved as pets on a portion of the river where there is constant traffic, and it is to be hoped that every effort will be made to exterminate them before more serious accidents occur. . . . Those desirous of seeing the hippo in their natural haunts should find some more solitary spot, where there is less danger to human life." '.STS:i :? »r:M i,