Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 141, 26 April 1864, Page 4

IxDr.i'FXDEXT Chapel, Ael'.kut-strekt. — The annual public soiree, in connection with this plate of worship, will be held this evening in the chapel, Albert-street, when speeches on interesting topics will be given by several ministers and friends. The Commissariat, we perceive, are advertising for tenders for the supply of flour, &e., to be delivered at or near New Plymouth. The Yoi.ocity of Ei.ectukity ami the Duration" ok the Si-auk have been made the subject of elaborate experiments by M. K. leliei, who lias inserted some notes thereon in the Amialvn tic C/tiiiiie. In his opinion, the best method of measuring the velocity of electricity is the observation of the sparks which arise at the interruption of an uncovered eonductingwire freely suspended in the air, and without an envelope of gutta-percha, or silk, and traversed by the discharge of the Leydenjar. When we employ a battery and wires covered with gutta-perelia, and in the very variable condition of telegraph wires, causes of error are introduced, as has been demonstrated, principally by Professor Faraday. 51. Fclici al.-o expresses his" doubts us to the propriety of employing for this purpose the galvanometer or the or the electromagnet. In a memoir lately published he stated that, by his apparatus he had determined the velocity of electricity to be, in round numbers, about 2(30,000 kilometres :> second. Since then lie has had new and improved apparatus made, which he describes in detail. "With regard to the duration of the spark, lie observed in his experiments a phenomenon already noticed by Mr. Wheatstone and M. Ft.diiersen—viz., that when the .'.park has a sensible duration it is composed of several sparks of an intensity successively more feeble and separated in themselves by infinitely small intervals of time. There is, consequently, one whole spark and somu partial sparks of exceedingly small duration. According to M. I'eliei, the duration of the spark depends on the relation between the tension and the quantity of the charge. By augmenting the tension and diminishing the charge the duration of the spark is also diminished. The duration of the spark (he says) also depends on the state of the surface of the metallic balls or points. Our limited space prevents the insertion of further particulars of the experiments.

CVkious Cask. —A singular case is reported from Ireland. It \v;is an attempt to deprive Mr. James Ormsby. of Sligo, of an estate which has been in his family since the reign of CharksJJ. The Ormsby's held it by gnrnt, under the Acts of Settlement anil Explanation, on which rest the principal titles to property in Ireland. Sir. Thomas Ormsby, the grandfather, married, about the year 1779, Eleanor Scott, a person in humble life, but of great beauty. There were nine cliildren, issue of the marriage, one of whom was an ollicer ill the British. army, and killed in action ill 18U9. The eldest, Thomas Ormsby, was bom in 17S0, and died in 180 t intestate, leaving Sir. .lames Orsby, his only son, surviving, Hubert Ormsby, the uncle of the latter, died in lS4it. also intestate, leaving his nephew William his heil-at-law ; hilt Major l'hibbs, a tenant, refused to pay him lent, alleging that his grandfather anil his grandmother had not been married. The estate was then claimed by a collateral relative, and the Crown issued a commission in the nature of hii inquest of office, to try the question of legitimacy and right to the property. The commission was opened at Sl>g° and lasted five days. It appears the parish registers were burned during the rebellion of 1798, but a number of family deeds were produced which established the legitimacy ; and the jury found accordingly. Mukiikh of a Lovmt in Svaix.—A young Spanish girl residing at Camporeal, near Aeala, qu;irreled with her lover; the lovers' quarrel was made up> but the amnntiitm irai broke out afresh, again and again, until this poor girl got heartily sick of those domestic broils, and to ellectually stop them she decided upon a very strong measure. She murdered her lover, stufl'ed his corpse into her mattrass, ana slept soundly on him for five nights, until certain odours which are wunt to exhale from putrescent humanity revealed not exactly the existence, but the presence of a lover in tlie young lady's bedchamber. The dread " secret de'alcove " led to the girl's ants l '. She is about to be tried before the Tribunal oi Aleala. Maxima Reveuextia Pl kko. —The Irish aroq'J l " 5 right in saying that we do not understand themthat conviction, and without note or comment, ,ve copy the following advertisement from the J'iiN' 3 Daily fa-press:—Pantry Buy : "Wanted, a situation 44 Pantry Hoy, by a very reportable Protestant Lad)Application to be made to # * # * lUingannon, to. Tyrone. Something Out of the Common - .—" I suppose, said a gentleman—pointing to one of those huge perambulating photographic vans that go rolling about the country, and which was then stationary on th» Common—"that thing is the fellow's parlour, kitchen, bed-room, —in short his everytliing i*"—" es, h lB drawing-room included," replied his witty companion. . How would you translate into Latin "The Stafl 0 Life'r"—Why any little boy could tell you, "Ziy'""" File," to be sure.