LONDON CHAT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13940, 27 June 1907, Page 10

LONDON CHAT.

/Fhoh Our Own Cohmjmhdixt,) LONDON, May 10. THE KING. King Edward returned to London last Saturday evening after his protracted Continental and Mediterranean tour. Ilis customary luck with regard to "King's weather" duly attended his return journey, but to ordinary people it would have been deemed more in the naturo of what u French friend of mine uGed to call "unlnck." For King Edward's meteorological experiences have hitherto been exactly the reverse of those enjoyed by his lamented mother. In her case "Queen's weather" meant blue 6kies and brilliant sunshine; in her son's caso "King's weather" does not mean that! Ho crossed the Channel in the midst of a bowling tempest, with heavy seas constantly breaking over the steamer, while 6ister waves simultaneously dashed over and drenched the a&emblcd crowds who, on _ the Admiralty pier at Dover, wero awaiting his Majesty's arrival. However, the King voyaged in one of the newest turbino boats, Invicta, which, notwithstanding tho_ gale and high sea, covered tho 25 miles in only two minutes over the even hour. As a matter of course, tho Sovereign was welcomod with the utmost loyal enthusiasm—at- anyrate, to as great an extent as the atrocious weather rendered feasible. It was a sadly bcdragelcd and salt-water-sodden crowd that rapidly dispersed after tho King's "special" had depu.ted from Dover for London. Here in town the weather was not quito so bad, though it was nothing to boast of. Multitudes, as usual, assembled to welcome tho King back, and everything passed off satisfactorily. His Majesty was evidently determined to demonstrate that ho was not going to bo knocked up/ or put out of action by a bad Channel-crossing, albeit ho is now in tho sixty-sixth year of his age. As soon <16 over ho could get through his dinner ho jumped up and was off like a shot to the opera, where he seemed to thoroughly enjoy the evening's programme. PRINCE FUSIIIMJ. Tho Japaneso Princo Fushimi is with us, and was received with tremendous oordiality. It goes without saying that our distinguished Japaneso guest will havo to pass through a severe course of entertainment. Ho is being l duly feted by all classcs from tho King downward. The i review which was to hav<S boon held at ' Aldereliot yesterday in honour of Princo Fushimi ha<l to be abandoned owing to the sodden state of tho ground on Lallan's Plain in consequence of tho heavy rains. LONDON UNIVERSITY. Presentation Day was celebrated on Wednesday'at London University, South Kensington. The ceremony took plaoe in tho groat hail, which was crowded with visitors and men and women graduates. Tho string band of the Scots Guards played in tho gallery for an hour before tho proceedings began. Tho chancellor (Lord Rosebery) presided, and thero was a large representation of the Senate, besides many guests. Sir A. Ruckcr, the principal, read his report on the work of .the university during the past year. The year, lie said, would be momerable in the' history of the university. The negotiations and arrangements for the incorporation of University College were completed by tho actual incorporation of that institution on January 1; the transfer had given riso to no serious difficulty, and the new committee which, under tho general direction of the senate, controlled it was working satisfactorily. It was difficult to exaggerate the importance of the union thus accomplished in making the university a teaching body on a largo scale, and opening _up possibilities of improved organisation of university teaching in London which would otherwise have been impossible. The chancellor (Lord Rosebery), who was revived with loud cheers, made ono of his eloquent and characteristic speeches, in the course of which he said tho university |had been benefited bv great benefactions in the past.' but he was not so confident that there was the same facility for them in the future. Those great fortunes built up in South Africa had been, to a largo extent-, the source of their prosperity. "When they t-hoimht of the names of Wernher, Beit, and Curric, and the equally illustrious name of Rhodes —though only a small portion of his Benefactions had come there, most- having gone to his own University of Oxford.—they oould not altogether recoggfse the -justice of the criticisms which ha<l been pn«s«d on those fortunes or on their application. But he was very doubtful whether colossal fortunes were being built up in South Africa at- the present moment, and -ho was rather scect.ieal whether those golden fountains which they of in the famous "From Greenland's ley- Mountains" wero still continuing to flow in their rich abundance. But those benefactions to which he had referred could only oomo out of that superfluity of wealth, and if they cut short the persons possessed of that superfluity they were killing the bird that kid the golden eggs. When that Wrd wag killed they would have to look increasingly to the State for assistance, because if the State carved cut vast sources of affluence for itself from superfluous wealth, it would also havo to undertake those responsibilities which had hitherto fallen on that superfluity. He wished to say one word on a movement— a spontaneous movement—whioh he lwilcd from the 'bottom of his heart. That day. for tho first time in the history of the University, on tho inspiration of the students themselves, the day would bo closed by a solomn service oE gratitude to tho Almighty in Westminster Ablw.v. No happier inspiration had over occurred to their body corporate. It was right, it was meet, it was fitting that at this period of their lives, when they might roughly draw the line between study and practice, they should in procession procced to that, historic slirino and offer to tho Almighty their thanks for the blessings which ho had vouchsafed to them, and their prayers that their careers might not be unworthy of tho university nor of the Empire in which it was the central educational point. Tliis service, promoted by an undergraduate committee, duly took place in the evening. The anthem was "Wherewithal shall a young man cloansc his way?" (Elvey). The sermon was preached by tho Dean, who said ho wished to offer a respectful welcome to that uniquo gathering. Whon ho undertook to preach the |. sermon _to the students of the London University, at tho request of some of them, he confessed that he bad no reason to think that they would assemble in such numbers or that their seniors would respond as they bad dono to the invitation to bo present. He thanked God that that ancient abbey church which hajl so long stood for tho consecration of the highest human _ gifts should declare afresh its attnaot-ivo power in 'tho midst of our modom life, and gather within its historic walls so many of tho ohoicest elements of the intellectual progress of London, together with such a representation of that young life on whoso true development- and self-education ilio future of England depended. A NEW WONDER. A new wonder is announced in the shape of a railway on tho mono-rail principle, but worked by a wholly novel method. An official description says: "Briefly tho principle is that of tho boy's spinning-top, and its adaptation by means of 'gyroscopes to mono-rail traction is duo to the ingenuity of Mr Louis Breiuian, C.8.. whose torpedo was purchased by the British Government some 10 years ago for £110,000. His car is not suspended from tho rail, as in the case of tho Behr and Lartiguo systems, nor yet is it in any way dependent upon lateral support, as with other 'systems whioh have been tried in this country and elsewhere. Tho complicated structures needed . for tho mono-rail systems are ontirely obviated here, and the 'permanent way' <s of the simplest possible descripj tion. The car is balanced upon a single tow of wheels, and is dependent for the maintenance of its equilibrium upon two gyroscopes or flywheels, which rot-ate in the same place, but in opposite directions, on axes parallel' to the axes of the road wheels, and at -right angles to tho rail. Apparently it does not matter what is the exact position of theso gyroscopes within the structure. They arc to revolve at a tremendous number of revolutions per minute, but the power needed to keep them in motion is only 1 per cent, of the electrical force nc«lod to drive the car. Should this current fa.il the storcd-up energy in the fly-wheels i 6 so great, and the friction so small, that they will still run with sufficient velocity to maintain tho stability of the vehicle for several hours. It is. indeed, asserted that it would be two or three days before they would come eaitirely to rest.''