CLIPPINGS FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

North Otago Times, Volume 1944, Issue XXVI, 20 July 1878, Page 2

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

POPULATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. Tho Registrar-General states as follows his annual estimate of tho resident population of the United Kingdom. He puts tho population of England and Wales in tho middle of this year, 1878, at 24,854,397, or 307,088 moro than in tho middle of last year ; tho population of Scotland at 3,593,929, an increase of 33,212 ; of Ireland, ftt 5,433 040, an increase of 97,245, which last number appears very laiyo indeed. The total population of the United Kingdom is statod at 33,881,966, or 437,fi47 more than, at tho corresponding period in last year.

NKW LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE. An interesting series of experiments, reports tho " Mining Journal,' 1 are about to bo carried out at tho Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, to teat tho efficiency of a special kind of locomotivo engine which has boon constructed for the now trench railway. This railway is designed to bo laid upon tho surface of tho ground wherever it may bo found necessary to construct earthworks or to transport material, the ordinary methods of reducing irregularities by cuttings^ and embankments being out of the question in field operations. The engine is, therefore, designed to ascend and descend sharp gradients, and is also fitted with an apparatus for hauling up and lowering loaded trucks. A hill too dteep to bo ascended with a load behind may bo surmounted by the engine alone, and it may then wind-up the load after it. An experimental railway running up and down hill in irregular fashion is being formed near the butts in the Government Marshes adjoining tho Royal Arsenal, for tho purpose of tho trial.

„ GIGANTIC fiTEEL BRIDOR. A bridge of such proportions as the world has never yet saen (says an Nnglish paper) is proposed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette for the purpose of connecting the two banks of the Thames in the vicinity of the Tower, and the plan has received the approval of the Metropolitan Board. The Operation contemplated by the Hoard consisted in building up a structure of steel crossing the Thames in one tremendous span clearing the water at such an altitude that three-fourths of the masted ships which require to do so will be able to pass under the elevated roadway without any hindrance, while the remaining fourth will merely have to lowor their topmasts, which they may very well afford to do, as topsails are not carried in the Thames above Gravesend. The case now before us affords a striking instance of the great practical results which are apt to follow from impioved processes in the arts. Steel, when perfect in its composition, is capablo of bearing a much more sovere strain than iron, and the improvements which havo been effected by Dr Siomens and others in the manufacture of this motal have rendered it more thoroughly trustworthy, and have enabled it to be produced at a much more moderate coet, with nearly double the strength of iron. Hence it is now possible to construct such a bridge as would have been practically out of the question a few years ago.

TUB MARVELS OP SCIENCE. From tho report given in " Nature " of the Royal Society's mooting on the Oth May last, we learn that already the telephone and tho phonograph are thrown into the shade hy a wonderful discovery made by Professor Hughes, that certain substances can be rendered sensitive to extremely feeble sounds, and that by a simple contrivance sounds that are otherwise inaudible can bo conveyed to tho ear. The instrument founded upon this discovery has beon named tho " microphone," and will perform tho samo office to tho sonso of hearing as the microscope does to seeing. Although this instrument is not yet perfected , its performances are already truly marvellous. A fly moving on a table under un inverted tumbler is heard to walk with a peculiar tramp of its own. The brushing of a camel-hair poncil on a wooden surfaco is heard as a crackling noise of such intensity as to be almost painful to the oars. By inserting this little instrument (which is merely a glass tube two inches long, and one-fourth of an inch in diameter, and containing four separate pieces of charcoal saturated with globules of morcury) in tho circuit of a telephone, tho most minute sounds are conveyed to nn enormous distance, so that the beating of the pulse, tho ticking of a watch, or oven tho tramp of a fly can be heard at tho distance df a hundred mites from the source of the sound.

SHOT ON THE STAGB. The "New York Herald " reports a shocking accident which occurred at the 1 Hawtuckot Oppra House. A Variety Company from Brooklyn were peforininir the peculiar exhibitions introduced hv Mr Frank Fr,»vno and his wife, Mi«n Clara Butler, the feature of which is the introduction of firearms and the display of skili in maiksmnnship. Thepeisons who took part in this portion of the entertainment were two female artists known to the stagu by the names of Miss Jennie Franklin and Mdlle Volante. the former hoincf in tho linbi 1 - of firing the rifles, and the Litter noting in the cupaoity of assistant. An apple lioinu placed on tho head of Mdlle. Volante, her coadjutor proceeded to take aim by means of a mirror over her shoulder. After taking deliberate aim sho fired, and to tho horror of of the audience, tho unfortunate assistant uttered a loud shriek and fell to tho ground, tho bullet having pierced tho forehead and»causod inctant^lcath. Great oxcitemont ensued. Tho police arrested Miss Franklin, who seemed '* duzod with horror," in order to await tho result of the coronar's inquest.

A CLOSE- FISTED PAKTY. "iEgW in the " Anstraiasiau " writes :— " I was told the other d.xy by a prosperous piistor.il tenant the following; story of another gentleman, who also lives by the incrcaso of cattlo and the hippy need for blankets in cold weaHiei. Closefist is .a bachelor with an incomes of something like LlO.OOO a year, but, bein. 1 canny and prudent, ho eschews hotels iiml seeks out a moderate-priced bonrdwiirhotiso. Ho asked luh two Melbourne copartners in tho stations to come out with him to his suburban lodging. When they

entered the sitting-room there vm a bottle of brandy on the table, from which* C. helped Jiimself without inviting his guests to join, him. Knowing their man, said one to the other, " Let's have a nip, too," and the rite was duly performed. After a timo conversation flagged and Discount said to Floecewool, " We'll have a little more brandy before we go." " Do you really mean it?" inquired Closefist. "Certainly we do." "Well, then, bo quick, and let me put the cork in, for, you must know, it isn't my brandy. It belongs to one of tho other dodgers !"