GLEANINGS FROM THE PAPERS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 34, 25 May 1878, Page 3

GLEANINGS FROM THE PAPERS.

A great improvement in the system of lowering boats at sea, increasing at once the facility ami safety of that operation, has been devised (the Daily Telegraph says) by Mr. Godfrey Lawrence. The most important advantage of this inventor's plan over other mechanism resides in tho immunity which it ensures against any risk of collision between the lowered boat and the ship's hull. The curved davits are fitted at there upper extremes each with a head, resembling somewhat that of a bird, and are hinged at the lower ends to the ship's side, Each head has a projecting and immovable upper jaw, the lower one working on a pin in its base. An ingenious contrivance provides for the free motion of these heads at the moment when they are required to release their grip, and for their firmness so long as they should hold fast. In the skull itself is placed a sheave of sufficient sizo to allow free working room for the chain over it, on its way backwards to the points ol support behind. These are so shaped as to enable their lower ends to

be placed on the deck without taking up much room—a great consideration with all seamen. Between the standards and on the deck is fixed a very compact winch, the special design of the late Mr. Douglas; and to this winch the chains used in working the boats and davits lead. A powerful brake controls tho winch; and tho ease, rapidity, aud certainty with which the operation of lowering is performed, at any angle of the rolling ship, cannot bo surpassed. The hoisting chains and the releasing ropes command, in a very absolute and efficient manner, the opening and shutting of tho jaws ; and the boat's weight, no matter how increased by crew or passengers, exerts a steady

self-given strain on the chains, which prevents any untimely releasease till the load is shifted on to tho ropes. For hoisting, lowering, and stowing ships' boats, whether at sea or in port, the invention thoroughly fulfils its purpose. A Dubuque, lowa, man left his home about eighteen months ago, and previous to his departure buried about 34000 'in gold coin in a field, having taken tho bearings very carefully by the fence, a tree, aud the cupola of a house. When he returned, the field had been cut up into building lots and the tree cut down, and it was not until a land surveyor had been called in and a variety of abstruse calculations had been worked with the rotting roots of tho tree, which was fortunately discovered in the ground, that the money was found. When you bear a good story from the lips of a stupid man, and see a silk umbrella in the hands of a man who dors not pay for a newspaper, you may know that both have been borrowed.

A discussion (says the Spectator) has been going on in the papers as In what a billion means, and Mr. Henry Bessemer writes a letter to the Times, suggesting ways in which people may realise how immense the number is. Ho tells that a billion of sovereigns laid flat, rim to rim, like links in a chain, would pass 70'3 times round the earth, and that a billion sheets of the Times pressed on eaeh other would form a solid column of paper 4-7,:1-tS miles high. Does he really believe that an illustration of that kind is more comprehensible than the word billion ! The truth is, that neither can be realised in the leastby persons unaccustomed to such high figures, and either would be realised easily enough by persons accustomed to require them. Frenchmen who use small moneys, and therefore need high figures, realise " a milliard " —a thousand millions —easily enough; while to an average Englishman such a figure presents no definite idea at all. It is a pity we have not a single word like the Indian crore (ten millions) to servo as a unit for high oalcu hit ions, and if the masses had occasion to make them, they would invent one. Astronomers even now use the earth's diameter as a unit and measure vast distances as so many " diams." The European Mail says that returns compiled of the emigrants that left Liverpool during last year show that the number was 34,873 persons, conveyed by 7G2 vessels. Of these 32,407 wore English, 42.') Scotch, 5021 Irish, 14,288 foreigners, and 2<>72 whose nationalities were not recorded. There destinations were: 43,1174 went to the United States, 7405 to British North America, 684 to Australia, 1094 to South America, 180 to the West Indies, 1129 to the Ea.st Indies, 150 to China, 557 to the West Coast of Africa. The official returns for the month of December have also just been issued, from which it appears that tho total was 2100 emigrants m (>9 ships, their nationalities being 1172 English, 12 Scotch, 220 Irish, 511 foreigners, and 11)4 not distinguished. During Novomber tho number was 3041, whioh is 932 in excess of last month, which was 300 over December, 187(1.

It is said that eight Russian ladios who were students at tho Polytcchnicum, Berlin, and who had lately been ordered back to Russia, have just MO condemned to penal servitude in tho mines of Siberia, on the charge of belonging to secret socio-

Tho Duke de Ifoatpenator give, to Kia ; daughter, the PriBMM Mercedes, a* a. dowry, twenty-five millions vi Ereno, without counting a great quantity of diamonds, and a wonderfully rich trousseau. The ruling King presents her with several suites of jewels, and his portrait set in brilliants. The Holy Father, who has always entertained a great affection for his godson, Alfonso XII., sends ail apostolical ablegate to be presents at the marriage, and who is the bearer of a

wedding-ring blessed by his Holiness, as well as a rose in diamonds for the future Queen of Spain. The Countess de Paris has sent to her sister a suite of jewels worthy of figuring in the finest collections in Europe.—Home News, The following is from the report of a sermon delivered in San Francisco by the famous Dr. Talmage, as given in the -NewYork World :—" We flndjine of the most notorious of villians nominated in NewYork to the office of State senator—John UorrUsey ! the reformer I Wonder if Herod the Great had better not open an infant school '. John Morrissey, who has been indicted eighteen times for crime I I protest, and it is high time for the pulpits of New York and Brooklyn ? No one in the United States does more to injure young men than that public villain John Morrissey I In his gambling hell, every hour, he is covered with the blood of his victims. I have intimated a wish that he might bo washed oft' the face of the earth, but I would rather wish that he never had been born. I take a Fulton ferry boat, and as I pass the City Hall I am told that the political ring is broken, i.„* <:.,. i .i.„* „.i...:,.!„.:„..„ „„s T>..t.

but find that other glorious reformer, Patrick Shannon. I call on people to shut up their places of business and flght against this outrage. Republicans and Democrats are shouting themselves hoarse in advocating John Morrissey. If this is Democratic doctrine, may the wrath of God split it to atoms—this rinsing of the sewers which the slums of New York are trying to spew into the Senate. Ido not speak as strongly as I might. I want to be prudent. In the name of the American Church, in the namu of the men of the United States in the name of the God of good, I denounce this villian, John Morrissey." The number of scholars attending the public schools of the United States and territories is 8,099,000; the number of teachers engaged is 241,000 ; salaries of teachers, 40,703,000 dollars ; annua! expenses, not including buildings and sites, 59,430,000.

The L mdon correspondent of the New Zealand Dartford. This town is remarkable for its powder and paper mills. I visited one of the latter, which belongs to \V. H. Smith, M. I'., the present First Lord of the Admiralty, ami proprietor of the Daily Telegraph newspaper. The manager kindly showed me the whole process, from the raw grass up to the linishhed paper. Mr.at 200 hands employed in working the complex machinery. This mill sends out every day 54 rolls of paper, and each rt.il contains a length equal to .'!i miles -107 miles of paper per diem, and all this for one newspaper ! What, then, must be the aggregate amount of journalism in this country ! Mr. Smith was formerly a newsboy in the great city of London, and is an example of what may be accomplished by indomitable will, coupled with sterling honesty and integrity.

A small English colony, according to the Zacht, a Russian paper, exists near Archangel, which at tho present time enjoys perfect independence. This colony was formed gradually by emigrants drawn there by the establishment by an English company of some important sawmills. The colonists have raised a town the existence of which is, so to speak, unknown, as it neither figures on maps nor upon official records of real property nor in the rate books. The inhabitants of this happy place, whose numbers are not mentioned, are therefore (remarks the Pall Mall Gazette) free from rotes, taxes, and all other burdens, such as weigh so heavily on British householders. They are, moreover, independent of a local authority, and indeed, of authority of any description. This strange colony is, it is stated, not the first of the kind which was sprung up in these quarters. Not long ago an American town, established under somewhat similar conditions, was discovered in tho neighborhood of tho Bay of .Morton, Kamstehatka. A correct list of these independent little colonies, with information as to the readiest method of reaching them, would doubtless be a boon to a largo and important class of her Majesty'.-, subjects.

A Russian captain by the name of Serlszontchissc.saclievoikiußehlel.sky, who was wounded in an assault on Lovatz the other day, had to be taken off the Held in trisyllables on three stretchers. First Mason (on strike) : Going to the pub 1 Second Mason (on strike): 'Tain't no good, all the pubs is shut. The brewers' men have struck. First Mason : No. Ain't it a hinfainy f Second Mason : Dug em. If I was their master I'd sec if they should strike, the blackguards. Oh, Lor', Bill, I am just thirsty, ain't it awful I First Mason : Ortn't to be tolerated in u civilised country. I shall ohoke with thirst jolly soou. Cuss tho brewers' men.

" Yes, my son,'' said a fond parent to his attentive son, " the very linins of our leads am numbered." " Huh !" exclaimed tho youth, gazing inquiringly upoon the baldness of tho ngod parent's head, " that's nothing"