A NEW ZEALAND INVENTOR.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8259, 14 August 1895, Page 1

A NEW ZEALAND INVENTOR.

Mr T. C. Dennison, of Oamaru, who came home some time ago to eipioit his bicycling patents, is, says the Dunedin Star's London correspoHdent, becoming a familiar figure in the streets ot the metropolis, as mounted on his " Maori " cycle he whisks along the crowded thoroughfares. It is, of course, the machine and not the man which excites curiosity. Mr Dennison has only to leave his machine outside any place of business for thirty seconds, and 10, there is a crowd. The " Maori" in Us present form would be invaluable to street corner preachers, quack medicine vendors, ct hoc genus, both as a means of speedy locomotion and as a "draw," The inventor appeared in the meat market with his machine, just when the AgentsGeneral, produce experts, pressmen, and other curious people were engaged in examining the Gothic's chilled beef, and for a few minutes it was a toss-up whether beef or bicycle was the topic of the moment. Mr Dennison, however, promptly obscured the machine behind a pile of besf and saved his situation. Whilst he was concealing ifc I interviewed him briefly. He told me first of all that the difficulties in the way of reducing the " Maori" to a reasonable length has now been overcome, and that within the next few days he would be in possession of a machine with a wheel base only a few inches longer than is common to the ordinary safety, and weighing not more than 40lb. Also, that a company was prepared to take up his bicycle. Before entering into any specific contracts with the gentlemen forming the syndicate Mr Dennison intends, with the help of Abelspeis, the well-known German club rider, to place " records " over all distances to the credit of his machine. This can hardly be called a u modest proposition ;'* but, seeing that on the 70-pound "Maori" which Mr Dennison now rides about the said Abelspeis has done twenty-five miles in the hour on the Queen's highway, the inventor will not be deemed fatuitously sanguine. Having reduced his bicycle into a commercial compass, Mr Dennison has turned his attention to improving the driving gear of ordinary safeties. He has already patented a new driving band, which he believes will supersede the various chains now in use. His band i 3 made of piano wire covered with rubber, and weighs under four ounces. A decently strong chain, of course, weighs ab least 20ozs. The cogs naturally disappear on bicycles fitted with a band, their place being taken by glass enamelled drums. Pretty severe tests have proved that the grip of the band on the drums is sufficient to prevent slipping when riding up inclines, and the total absence of jaring — which is ptesent in a greater or less degree in all bicycles containing cogs— is an aid to speed. Two of the largest machinist companies — the RudgeWhitworth and the Howe, to wit— are negotiating with Mr Dennison in respect to this band. The New Zealander haa on hand also a " three-speed " gear invention, which however is not sufficiently perfect to submit to the wheeling world yet awhile.

Having taken up golf, football, and cricket, the ladies of a town not 100 miles from Glasgow, propose to go in tor the good old game of quoits. Last year the cost of the Queen's Continental trip to Florence and Ooburg was about L 14.000. This spring the expenditure is estimated at L 10.502, of which L 4500 was paid for the three journeys — Cherbourg to Nice, Nice to Darmstadt, and Darmstadc to Ham* burg. The first object that attracts attention is one enters St. James' Church Marylebone, associated with the name of the Rev. H. R. Haweis, ia a notice in the lobby : "The stewards of this church are authorised to accept only silver for the collection. I have found," it proceeds, " that it is the rich and not the poor who give copper, when they can afford more.' 1 0. W. 0. Hardman, Sheriff of Tyler Co., W. Va., appreciates a good thing, and does nob hesitate to say so. He was almost prostrated with the cold when he procured a bottle of Chamberlain's Cough Kemedy. He says: "It gave me prompt relief. I find it to be an invaluable remedy for coughs and colds." For sale by E. G. Lane, Chemist and Druggist, Tees Street, Oamaru. A wife in Toronco lately gave evidence against her husband and brother-in-law, who were charged with murdering a man to get his life assurance. This was the first time in the history of North America that a wife had given evidence against her husband. After being under examination for three hours she met her husband's eyes, and, with a shriek, fell down in a swoon which lasted five hours. A curious case of courage in the face of death is reported in Germany. A lieu-< tenant of Hussar", yon Osten Sacken, accidentally wounded himself. The doctor informed him that he could at the most live three hours. The officer had writing m.itcmls brought to him, made his will, and then reported his own death to hia supeiior officer, giving the cause of the same.