Wonders of Electricity.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 70, 15 February 1883, Page 2

Wonders of Electricity.

i We learn from a Glasgow paper that Mr W. H. Akester,;P.B.A M Electrician to the Universal Electric Company, has not only effectually applied electricity to the scaring of burglars, bub has just constructed an instrument, which operates by electricity, for. gathering apples, mowing lawns, reaping cereals, hearing hides, singing horses, and shearing sheep: It consists of 'a' telescopic b.am boo, which can be lengthened to the height of any ordinary i 'fraey There is a calico shoot attached to the end of this electrical apparatus, into wiiichthe-fruit operated on fallal,^ah«T> thereby is transmitted into the basket or--' other vessel provided for its reception, . the latter is being placed at any convenient position either at the rose of the tree or «lsewhere. In fact; the v*hole apparatus, when denuded of the tfeces^ j sary connecting wires to the battery, dynamo, or secondary, simply resembles an ordinary/ walking-stick. Besides • having his family-sewing machine driven by a beautiful motor j Mr Akesterhas lastly, though not least m .ingenuSJt constructed an electrical fly-catcher which m confectionary and other estabn lishments where ."flies most 4o oongre^r gate," must be invaluable. It consists I of a series; of plates, one eighth of an • inch apart, the space between being.; filled with a composition of glue, and ' treacle, which: attract flies m great num« bers. Every alternate plate is positive " and negative, and the moment the fly r alights on the plates he' receives a, shock ' which causes instantaneous death. We. wonder to what electricity and. magnetism will be applied next.