LAND TORPEDO.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14544, 24 October 1917, Page 2

LAND TORPEDO.

An ingenious machine, really a land torpedo, has been invented by Ml It. V). Lindsay, a returned soldier, and a son of Colonel Lindsay, of Timarn, 3nd a private demonstration of tho invention was given to a number of .wellknown citizens. last week (says the "tress')- Mr Lindsay demonstrated, with a home-made and veiy rov«*hlv-! constructed model, but tho principle oi j the invention was e asily comprehended. | lhe machine will weigh about 10 cwt including its freight, and will be so constructed as to be impervious to bombs, riilo or machine-gun fire. it' will possess the great advantage of be-1 mg cheap, and its inventor claims that i once the necessary materials can be1 procured, between £60 and £80 will cover the cost of each machine. When! it is remembered that a torpedo ■ costs! up to £2000, and a big shell about i £200, and that only about one in j twenty of these performs tiie work to I which it is set, it will be readily re-1 cognised that the new invention, if! successful, would prove an im-aluable i weapon. Major-Genera I Sir Alfred j llobin saw tho model at work yesterday i and informed the inventor that if he would construct a full-sized working model, he would bo given every opportunity to demonstrate its worth at Trentham, where a ■ inini;Uuio battlefield and ''no man's land" "would be constructed, and the land torpedo would bo given a iV.ir trial under Veal war condition. Those who saw the model at work were evidently impressed with its possibilities, and it was decided that tlie Mayor should convene a larger meeting at a near date, when everything m connection with the matter can bo more fully gone into. The model has been inspected by a number of leading engineers, and Professor hcott, Messrs Lawrence Birks and K. h. Stark are amongst those who have been considerably iinpre^'d with it* possibilities. !

ihe war is being bright home to| ■us at last," said the Prim? Minister when speaking at "Our Day" celebrations in "Wellington last week (says the ! ••-Dominion"). -:{>vr a lono- time we ■ dul p.oc realise T/Jiat this war meant. : Now we look at the papers when tho-.y ' <-ome al'Mig mcrning anu nighL, and wo! see tlat our men are taking part. We' ! have inw«'isi> a--.JTi.i>\it-.ion for our sojdiers, and v/o are glad to read that thoy are doing so w.-.-ii. They «ot mto a difficulty the other day. "but there! I was no turning back." " ' j A dastardly act was perpetrated at ;Knottingly Park, Waim.ite, on Sunday,! ibetwen the hours vi 10.30 a.m. anl'^j p.m., when the emu, one of the great! I attractions of the park to children, was! , deliberately and cruelly killed states the Timaru "Herald." The bird was apparently knocked on the head with a Hte.nb rtiolc nnfj -t-s n tongue was then, cut out by tho roote. Tlio bird was valu- ■ ed by the. Dori;ai-i Board.at £30. The matter was immediately placed ;n the hands of the police.