A FORTUNE FOR AN IN VENTION.
" There are many vast rewards open to inventors even to-day; but there is one seemingly simple problem that preeminently is occupying some of the most inventive minds of England and other countries. This is the invention of some substitute for wood in warships." The speaker Avas one of the most eminent naval designers, and he went on : " Iron, used as a substitute for wood, absolutely renders life on a warship unbearable Its extreme conductivity makes it frightfully hot in summer and desparately cold in wiutor; when lockers and drawers are made of it they reek with damp; and if a cabin is wholly fitted with it the occupant soon shows signs of rheumatism or serious chest trouble. But wood is conclusively shown by recent example to be the most dangerous to warships —it is shown, indeed to be impossible. It not only takes fire readily, but the splinters from it when it is struck by shot actually kill and maim more men than the projectiles themselves do. Therefore, the highest Government authorities say, give us some substance that is light, absolutely uncombustible to the core, that can be easily cut into boards, and that can, above all, be guaranteed not to splinter, and there is a vast fortune for you at once."
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LWM18990922.2.53.6
Bibliographic details
Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2279, 22 September 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)
Word Count
218Untitled Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2279, 22 September 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.