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Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1690, 3 January 1874, Page 2

The p.s, Dispatch sailed for Hokitika yesterday morning, with . a. large number of passengers, and on the evening's the ps. Titan sailed for tho same port, and the'ps. Wallace for Westport and Nelson. The Dispatch returned to port early this morning. In 1 871 we described a signal lamp, invented by H olmea • which, on immersion iii •water, was. self-lighting, and -produced a brilliant illuminadon. Its principle 'rests upon the use of phosphide of calcium! which, in contact with the water, devejopes' spontaneously combustible pho^phurattrd hydrogen gas. A Ferman engineer 'has 1 recently been experimenting with his lamp.; A:' long tin tube, firmly closed, in which wore contain* d 900 grains of phosphide of calcium; was kept afloat upon the water -by being fastened to a piece of board. Before putting it into the water the bottom of the tube was. perforated to allow the water to enter, and the upper point cut off so that, on' the' 'en- ! trance of the water) the self-lighted phosphureted: hydrogen gas ■ was developed. r A flame 4in or 6in broad and 24in high, lighted up tho steam-boat and pilot-boat, which had gone out four miles on the sea witu a party to witness the experiments, so brilliantly that the vessels and men upon them ware distinctly visible from the Jighttiouse aD that distance.; In a tolerably heavy swelli the flame was preserved for three-quarters of an hour, and appeared at the distance of one or two miles like a strong simial fire. In , the immediate vicinity, for a distance of 28 yards, the light was strong enough to allow of any w,6rk being done. ' For pilot and 'wrecking 'service, this signal fire can be highly recommended. In case of a man overboard'in the iiight, his position could be detected by theiemployment of floating grenades of phosphide of calcium thrown from' the ship. — Southern Cross, ■'■' • •■•'■/